West Virginia Leads: First State Sales Tax Enacted
West Virginia enacted the nation's first broad sales tax in 1921, yet stubborn enforcement hurdles delayed its actual collection for years. This legislative gamble forced the state to develop early administrative frameworks that eventually stabilized revenue streams during the Great Depression.
May 3, 1921
105 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on May 3
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The monarch took a new name, João, and ordered his entire court to follow him into baptism. Nkuwu Nzinga of Kongo wasn't conquered—he invited the Portuguese pri…
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The French called it "Matanzas" too—the same name the Spanish had used for their massacre site, which meant "slaughters." Dominique de Gourgues led 150 Frenchme…
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