What was one of the first acts of the new American government after the Revolutionary War ended?

The establishment of taxes on incoming foreign shipping was one of the first actions taken by the new American government after the Revolutionary War ended. This was largely driven by the need to generate revenue for the federal government, which was still trying to stabilize its financial situation post-independence. By taxing foreign imports, the government aimed to encourage domestic production and protect burgeoning American industries from foreign competition.

Additionally, this move reflected the desire to assert control over trade policy and the economy. The taxation on foreign goods also served to facilitate the establishment of a more structured economic framework within the fledgling nation. It demonstrated a shift to a more centralized economic policy after the weaknesses exposed by the Articles of Confederation, which had left the federal government without sufficient means to generate income effectively.

Other options relate to economic policies and actions during this era but do not represent this specific foundational fiscal strategy of the new government. For instance, the creation of a federal bank was a later development aimed at stabilizing and streamlining financial operations, while agreements on trade and shipping were more complex and occurred gradually as the new government sought to foster international relations.