Responding to an urgent need for revenue following the American Revolutionary War , the First United States Congress passed .
President George Washington signed on July 4 , the Tariff of 1789 , which authorized the collection of duties on imports .
Responding to an urgent need for revenue following the American Revolutionary War , the First United States Congress passed , and President George Washington signed on July 4 , the Tariff of 1789 , which authorized the collection of duties on imports .