Final answer:
Robert Morris served as the superintendent of Finance during the final years of the Revolutionary War. He struggled to fund the nation's debt, including an unsuccessful attempt at imposing a five percent tax on foreign imports.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acting superintendent of Finance during the final years of the Revolutionary War was Robert Morris. Robert Morris was a Pennsylvania merchant who served as the nation's first finance minister between 1781 and 1784 under the Confederation Congress. During his tenure, he faced significant challenges as he attempted to manage and fund the nascent nation's debt but failed to create a system that the states would agree to support.
One of Morris's notable efforts was proposing a five percent tax on all foreign imports, aiming to boost revenue. This measure, however, met with opposition from several states, including Rhode Island and Virginia. Since unanimity was required for the measure to pass, it ultimately failed, further complicating the country's financial situation.
In contrast, Alexander Hamilton, another figure associated with the nation's early financial history, served as George Washington's secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795, after Morris's tenure as superintendent of Finance. Hamilton was influential in establishing the first Bank of the United States and instituting policies to stabilize the fledgling country's economy.