Prior to the [[income tax]], tariffs were the principal way for most of [[American history]] to support the [[federal]] government. In 1896, President [[William McKinley]] campaigned and won by pledging to increase tariffs to revive the [[American]] economy, which he did in 1897. Prior the [[Civil War]], the North favored tariffs to promote their manufacturing, while [[the South]] opposed tariffs in order to export [[cotton]] without retaliatory tariffs. | Prior to the [[income tax]], tariffs were the principal way for most of [[American history]] to support the [[federal]] government. In 1896, President [[William McKinley]] campaigned and won by pledging to increase tariffs to revive the [[American]] economy, which he did in 1897. Prior the [[Civil War]], the North favored tariffs to promote their manufacturing, while [[the South]] opposed tariffs in order to export [[cotton]] without retaliatory tariffs. |