The US government was almost entirely funded by tariffs on foreign goods. Notably in 1828, Andrew Jackson paid the entire debt by raising tariffs on British imports. This is commonly called the Tariff of Abominations.

The federal government has also raised money through land sales and excise taxes on sugar, alcohol, and tobacco.

Lastly, in the 1790s, the federal government was imposing taxes on land and other properties but was overturned by Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800s.