Final answer:
In the early 1800s, the federal government mainly generated revenue through tariffs and sales of western lands. Taxes on income, excise taxes, and other methods became more prominent after the imposition of the Internal Revenue Act of 1862 and the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early 1800s, the chief sources of revenue for the federal government were the tariff and western land sales. Taxes on corporations and slaves, excise and income taxes, property taxes and state assessments were not the primary sources during that period.
At this time, the federal government significantly relied on tariffs; these were taxes on imported goods which not only provided revenue but also protected burgeoning American industries from foreign competition. Additionally, the sale of western lands contributed to the government's revenue.