President Lincoln signed first US federal income tax act

On July 1, 1862, the Tax Act of 1862 was passed and signed by President Lincoln, establishing a 3% federal tax on income above $600 and a 5% tax on income above $10,000.

Compliance with the act was poor, even though there were needs for the Civil War. After the war, the act was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Review a brief history of the US income tax from the Library of Congress.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US signed peace treaty with Germany ending World War I

On August 25, 1921, the United States, which never ratified the Versailles Treaty ending World War I, finally signed its own peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Former East Germany leader convicted of manslaughter for Berlin Wall policy

On August 25, 1997, Egon Krenz, the former of East Germany was convicted of manslaughter for promulgating a policy of shooting any East Germans who attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, of which he served four before being released into retirement from political life.