So not many Americans made enough to pay the income tax.
Lincoln only needed it for revenue for the Civil War, but Progressives took it up again, and in 1913 gave us both the 16th amendment and the Federal Reserve.
Now how can that be? If the 16th Amendment is necessary for a legal income tax, yet introduces no new taxation powers, then what is going on?
Well, this used to be a subject limited to the income tax. Now, it also includes Obamacare, which means death panels and churches forced to support abortion.
Chief Justice Roberts tried to explain to Americans what is going on, but (so far) they've preferred howling like a pack of wolves at him instead of learning anything.
Yet, Obamacare still stands, despite the howling.
Someday, when people are exhausted from howling, and they are waiting to die because death panels have dismissed their medical needs because the funds need to be spent on another facelift for Pelosi or Hillary, in their last dying moments, these Americans might - might - want to learn what Roberts tried to tell them.
Or they might not.
The US planned an income tax during the War of 1812 but the war ended before it was imposed.
Congress imposed the first peacetime income tax in 1894. The Supreme Court ruled that parts of the income tax were a direct tax forbidden by the Constitution. The 16th Amendment allowing the income tax was passed in 1913.
Another thing to “thank” Lincoln for.
I’ll probably be royally flamed for this, but until emperor Hussein 0bama’s ugly face appeared on the scene, Lincoln did more than all the other Presidents combined to violate the basic tenents of The Constitution. He has been elevated to Saintly status for keeping the Union together, but his actions set a bad precedent that is still being followed.
***So not many Americans made enough to pay the income tax. ***
Or pay the $300 to avoid the Draft.