Final answer:
Congress passed reforms including taxes, tariffs, National Bank Acts, war bonds, and greenbacks to finance the Union's Civil War costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
To address the substantial costs for the Union, Congress implemented taxes on income and inheritance, enacted high tariffs, passed two National Bank Acts, encouraged the purchase of war bonds, and issued paper currency known as greenbacks.
During the Civil War, the Union faced significant financial strain. To overcome this, Congress passed legislation to increase revenue and finance the war. Income tax on the wealthy, inheritance taxes, and protective tariffs were introduced to generate funds. War bonds played a critical role; the National Bank Acts of 1863 and 1864 were enacted for their support. Additionally, the Legal Tender Act of 1862 authorized the issuance of greenbacks, thus boosting the Northern economy but also causing inflation.