The Constitution Changes On This Day In History

This day in American History includes a couple of heavyweight Constitutional changes that continue to shape life in America every day. The first coming 150 years ago today.

February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting all men the right to vote, regardless of race or color. Again, that's all MEN, not all people! American women would have to wait another 50 years until August 26,1920 for the passage of the 19th Amendment . Makes you wonder what kind of ideas and opportunities were missed by keeping women on the sidelines during those 50 years.

138 years later Barack Obama became the nation's first African-American President in 2008. Our first female President has yet to be elected.

The second quake in the force came about on Feb. 3,1913 with the passage of the 16th Amendment, providing for a federal income tax.

According to the Tax History Museum, In 1914, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued the first personal income tax form, the 1040. Here's what it looked like. Individuals paid one percent on income over $3,000 ($4,000 for married couples) with an additional surtax between one and six percent, depending on income level.

In 2018, Income Taxes contributed $1.822 trillion to the federal budget!

Categories: History, Politics