The Facts: First, we learn about the origin of the income tax in America, which was first introduced during the Civil War to raise funds for the Union Army. Then, we dive into the origin of the word “boycott,” which originated during the Irish Land War in the late 1800s to protest unfair treatment by landlords. Finally, we take a deep dive into the 1.5 billion pounds of government-owned cheese that is stored in converted mines just outside of Springfield, Missouri. We explore how the government’s efforts to support dairy farmers led to a massive cheese surplus and the logistical challenges of storing and distributing such a large quantity of cheese.
