"In 1776 the United States government started out on a shoestring and quickly went bankrupt fighting its War of Independence against Britain. At the war's end, the national government owed tremendous sums to foreign creditors and its own citizens. But lacking the power to tax, it had no means to...

" Keeping the economy strong will require addressing two distinct but related problems. Steadily rising federal debt makes it harder to grow our economy, boost our living standards, respond to wars or recessions, address social needs, and maintain our role as a global leader. At the same time,...

Comprehensive: examines the historical development of the federal tax system; explains the relative importance of income taxes, payroll taxes, and other taxes in the modern era; and discusses the fairness, economic efficiency, and revenue-raising characteristics of federal tax policy -...

Introduction: war, money, and American history -- A more effectual mode of administration: the constitution and the origins of American public finance -- The soul of government: creating an American fiscal regime -- So immense a power in the affairs of war: the restoration of public credit --...