Explain what grants-in-aid are and why the system that grew up around them was so attractive to state officials.

What will be an ideal response?


The first began in the form of land grants of federal money. These were soon accompanied by cash grants. Grants-in-aid are federal monies put into states hands; i.e., Washington would pay the bills; the states would run the programs. Today, hundreds of programs exist. The money seemed to be "free." States did not have to propose, collect, or take responsibility for federal taxes. However, states could claim credit for the federally funded projects. To states, the money was there. It was attractive because there were budget surpluses. As those surpluses dwindled, Washington inaugurated the income tax. Moreover, the federal government managed the currency and could print more at will.

Political Science

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a. more b. fewer

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Political Science