Taken from wikipedia: "There are state and federal excise taxes. State and federal inheritance taxes began after 1900, while the states (but not the federal government) began collecting sales taxes in the 1930s. The United States imposed income taxes briefly during the Civil War and the 1890s. In 1913, the 16th amendment was ratified."

So... What happened in 1913? Federal Reserve act! We all know what FED is doing. Same thing is in Europe with ECB

And another question. Was economy healthy without tax before 1913? Just read, what was done from 1850s until 1913. People were building big cities in that time...