The federal gas tax was first instituted on June 6, 1932, during the Great Depression to raise revenue for the federal government. At the time, the tax was set at one cent per gallon of gasoline. It was part of the Revenue Act of 1932, signed into law by President Herbert Hoover to combat declining federal income due to the economic downturn. The Revenue Tax also applied to candy, jewelry, firearms, toiletries, and much more. While some argue for raising it to keep up with infrastructure needs, others see it as an economic burden. The 1932 gas tax laid the groundwork for how the U.S. funds its roads and transportation network to this day.