Randa Abdelfattah and Ramteen Arablui

But there were some people who were speaking out against these new tax laws, even as the war raged on.

People like Vivian Kellams.

In the late 1920s, Vivian and her brother started a company together based around an invention called a cable grip, which was used by bridge builders and ultimately even the military would use it to lift heavy artillery shells.

And so she made a lot of money, money that was taxable.

She was rebelling by the 1940s against the sky-high income tax rates.

From her perspective, she thought, I haven't done anything wrong.

I've added value to society.

I haven't taken anything from anybody.

I've employed people at good wages.

And I helped the war effort by making these things that the Army needed for its artillery shells.

She felt aggrieved and for good reason.

Vivian's frustrations started coming out in newspaper articles.

The Chicago Tribune reported on a speech she gave saying that withholding was, quote, a deliberate plan to keep the system of free enterprise from surviving after the war.

This underground movement will not only control but own all business.

And she refused to be a part of that plan.

I mean, this was quite remarkable for a woman to say, no, I'm not going to do it.

And she told her employees, you're responsible for making your tax payments.

And even though the government tells me I have to take it from you, I'm not going to do it.

Vivian traveled around the country giving speeches.

And often had sizable crowds in which she argued against compulsory withholding and against big government in general.