The claim that tariffs ended in 1913 and that the U.S. Was richest from 1850 to 1913 primarily due to tariffs, with no income taxes during that period, cannot be fully verified based on the provided sources.
Unverified
Trump: "If you go back to 1913 is when they ended tariffs. We were the richest ever from 1850, it was all tariffs, we didn't have income taxes, from 1850 to 1913, we were the richest we ever were proportionately we were in 1887, around that time."
FactVerify
Source: factverify.com
At a glance
Verified September 3, 2025Key Evidence
The federal income tax was introduced in 1913 with the 16th Amendment; before that, tariffs were a major revenue source.
Tariffs were not completely ended in 1913 but adjusted alongside new tax policies.
Economic data from the late 19th century shows growth but does not conclusively support the claim of being "the richest ever" proportionally around 1887.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The statement attributes several historical economic facts to the period between 1850 and 1913: that tariffs were the main source of revenue, income taxes did not exist, and that the U.S. Was the richest it had ever been proportionally around 1887. However, without any sources provided in the search results, these claims cannot be confirmed or refuted.
Tariffs and Income Taxes: It is historically accurate that the modern federal income tax was established with the 16th Amendment in 1913, and prior to that, tariffs were a significant source of federal revenue. However, tariffs were not completely ended in 1913; rather, tariff rates were adjusted with the introduction of income tax.
Economic Richness: The claim that the U.S. Was "the richest ever" from 1850 to 1913, especially pinpointing 1887 as a peak proportionate wealth period, is difficult to verify without specific economic data such as GDP per capita or wealth distribution metrics from that era. Economic historians often note rapid industrial growth during the late 19th century but do not necessarily frame it as the absolute richest period proportionally.
The statement oversimplifies complex economic history by attributing wealth primarily to tariffs and ignoring other factors such as industrialization, technological innovation, and demographic changes.
In summary, while some elements of the claim align with known historical facts (e.g., no federal income tax before 1913), other parts are either inaccurate or lack sufficient evidence for confirmation. The absence of sources limits the ability to fully fact-check this statement.