Single Tax Party facts for kids

The Single Tax Party was a small political group in the United States that had a big idea about how taxes should work. It started in 1910 as the Land Value Tax Party. Later, for the 1924 presidential election, it changed its name to the Commonwealth Land Party.

This party had one main goal: to create a "single tax" system. This idea came from a famous American thinker named Henry George. He believed that the best way to fund government was to tax only the value of land, not things like buildings or income. This way of thinking is called Georgism.

What Was the Single Tax Idea?

The main idea behind the Single Tax Party was very simple: they believed that all taxes should come from the value of land. Imagine a piece of land. Its value can go up because of things happening around it, like new roads or a growing city, not just because of what someone builds on it.

Henry George thought that this increase in land value, which isn't created by the landowner's hard work, should be shared by everyone through a tax. This would mean people wouldn't pay taxes on their homes, businesses, or the money they earned. Instead, they would only pay a tax based on how valuable their land was. The party believed this would make society fairer and help everyone.

Who Was Henry George?

Henry George was an important American writer and thinker who lived in the late 1800s. He was very interested in why some people were rich and others were poor, even in a wealthy country like the United States.

He wrote a famous book called Progress and Poverty in 1879. In this book, he explained his idea that taxing land value could solve many economic problems. His ideas became very popular and influenced many people, leading to the creation of the Single Tax Party.

Party's History and Names

The party began in 1910 as the Land Value Tax Party. This name clearly showed their main focus: taxing the value of land. They wanted to change how the government collected money.

By 1924, the party decided to try a new name for the presidential election that year. They became the Commonwealth Land Party. A "commonwealth" often means a group of people working together for the common good. This new name still reflected their goal of using land value for the benefit of everyone.

Presidential Candidates

Even though the Single Tax Party was small, it did put forward candidates for president and vice-president. They wanted to spread their ideas and get people to think about their unique tax plan.

• 1920 Election
  • For President: Robert C. Macauley
  • For Vice-President: Carrie Chapman Catt (who was also a famous leader in the women's suffrage movement, fighting for women's right to vote)

• 1924 Election
  • For President: William J. Wallace
  • For Vice-President: John C. Lincoln

See also

• Georgism
• Land value tax
• Tax reform
• Third party (United States)