This Date in History, August 5: Sir William Wallace, Chicago and Cleveland's Lights

From the August 5, 2021 Chicago tribune "On August 5..."

Some very interesting things happening this date in history.

1305:  Sir William Wallace who unsuccessfully led Scottish resistance to the English in 1298, was captured near Glasgow by the English; he was executed for treason on August 23, 1305.  (From the movie "Braveheart.")

1833:  Chicago was incorporated as a village with population of 200.  (And, they weren't killing each other back then.)

1861:  The U.S. government levied an income tax for the first time.  Incomes of more than $800 were taxed at the rate of 3 percent.  (Funds needed to fight the Civil War.)

1884:  The cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty was laid on Bedloe's (now Liberty) Island near the entrance of New York Harbor.

1914:  The first electric traffic lights were installed in Cleveland, Ohio.

--Cooter

And a Happy Belated Birthday to the 16th Amendment

From the February 1, 2013, Chicago Tribune "Happy birthday, 16th Amendment" by Gary Barron.

In case you're wondering what the 16th Amendment is, you're likely working on it right now.  This gave Congress the power to tax us which led to our beloved Internal Revenue Service.

February 3rd marked the 100th anniversary of its ratification.  "Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived...."  At first it was just 1%, plus a graduated surtax of up to 6%.

"The Revenue Act of 1913 begat the Revenue Act of 1916, which begat the Revenue Act of 1917."  Over the years, many, many, many, many more acts came to be.

"The IRS is my shepherd, I shall not cheat.  It maketh me to file my return timely."

For Me, It's Pay and Pay and Pay.  --RoadDog

Did You Know?

From the July 21, 2009, List Universe (Listserve).

** In the last 3,500 years of mankind, there have only been 230 with no wars.

** The model for Uncle Sam on the famous 1917 "I Want You" poster was the face of its painter James Montgomery Flagg who aged his face and added the goatee. He did this so he wouldn't have to look for a model (or pay one).

** There was no U.S. Medal of Honor until 1862, when President Lincoln signed it into law.

** Income taxes were repealed in 1865 because the government did not need the revenue. The major sources of federal income came from tobacco and alcohol at the time. So, there were sin taxes all the way back then.

The Tax Man Neareth. --Cooter