The History of Tobacco Farming prior to 1877. History Research Paper

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Tobacco Farming in America before 1877
Communities around the world have depended on agriculture for their daily sustenance for many centuries. Individuals have been clearing and tilling pieces of land and planting crops not only to consume but also exchange for other commodities they may require. On the same breadth, agriculture has been practiced in the US since the first English settlers came into the region to present day. Particularly, agriculture supported the livelihood of 90% of the population during the period of European colonization of the country. Over the years, America has been at the forefront of the agricultural production of various cash crops including tobacco that was natively grown in North and South America. It is believed that tobacco was grown in the Americas from way back in 6000 B.C. The Native Americans used it not only as medicine but also as a hallucinogen. Upon seeing its usage in America, European explorers then introduced tobacco to the rest of the world between 15th and 16th centuries and it was eventually taken up as a drug of choice by the rich and poor alike. Nonetheless, it is only until the 17th century that tobacco was grown commercially in the US. The research paper purposes to examine the history of tobacco farming prior to 1877 in the United States.
Tobacco is a cash crop that was grown by Native Americans in the North and South from as early as 6000 B.C. For one, American Indians used tobacco for religious and medicinal uses. Tobacco was also used by Native Americans as a painkiller and for dressing wounds. It belongs to the same family as nightshade and individuals/ users usually chew, inhale or smoke the dried tobacco leaves to achieve invigorating and calming effects (Hall 360). European explorers including Christopher Columbus first encountered tobacco around 1492 when they were given the cash crop as a gift by American Indians. Upon being intrigued by its healing properties, the European explorers then introduced tobacco not only in Europe but globally.
Although tobacco had been grown in the Americas for centuries, it is not until the 17th century that it was produced commercially in Jamestown, Virginia. John Rolfe arrived in the region around 1612 with a new species of tobacco in nicotiana tabacum which was much smoother and preferable to the native nicotiana rustica (Clifton, and Kulikoff 498). During that period, his fellow English settlers and the locals were struggling and starving unaware that they were sitting on a gold mine. Tobacco grows well in warm climates and regions such as Virginia. Furthermore, the sole in Virginia supported tobacco farming. As such, many white people in the region soon took up tobacco farming in large scale for sell in Europe. The first shipment of tobacco from Virginia to England was sent in 1614 and 1639 over 700 tons had been exported in and around Europe. It is noted that Europeans were highly thrilled from the notion that tobacco was capable of curing any diseases that affected their bodies hence the large quantities of export into the region (Clifton, and Kulikoff 498). The growing popularity of tobacco farming eventually found its way to other states in the US including Kentucky, and North and South Carolina.
During the initial phases of commercial tobacco farming in the US, a farmer was expected to produce or cultivate averagely 700 pounds of the cash crop annually. By the end of the 17th century, tobacco farmers in the region were averaging about 1700 pounds annually. The increased production was brought about not only because of the increased demand for the produce in Europe but also from better farming techniques. Considering that tobacco wears out the soil very rapidly, the farmers learnt the benefits of relocating every so often to allow the soil on their pieces of land to recuperate. Bolland reiterates that position and shares that “Tobacco will wear out the soil in just a few years and this necessitated farmers to relocate from coastal areas up rivers in the Chesapeake Bay area” (13). Additionally, the production of tobacco was also increased because of the use of slaves on the large farms in the region.
It is essential to note that while tobacco was in high demand in Europe, the farmers in America Virginia considered it a temporary crop that they would produce in the short term until they were able to plant something else because of its low prices. For instance, tobacco was being sold for pennies in Virginia which discouraged many farmers. Tobacco farming was not only labor intensive but also the lands where the cash crop was planted required regular fertilization. As such, slavery came as a welcome relief because it provided the farmers the opportunity to increase their profits at low costs. Slaves as was the case around the US and in many European colonies were subjected to forced labor and which meant that the tobacco farmers were getting free assistance on the large pieces of land. According to Dawidoff, and Cunliffe, “Slavery would mark a change from small tobacco farms, to larger farms, which necessitated large labour forces provided by the slaves” (289). As such, farmers in America through using slave labor were able to even triple their productions of tobacco and make substantial amounts in return. Particularly, American tobacco farmers who not only used slaves to till and plough their lands but also established their plantations in highly fertile areas were even more prosperous. Majority of them used the proceeds from the exported tobacco to purchase even more slaves and the initiative helped them to continuously expand their territories.
Over the years, individuals in the Caribbean Islands also took up the use of slaves in tobacco farming. The farmers took extreme caution against the mistreatment of their slaves who they considered property because it was more expensive replacing them than keeping them alive. Furthermore, they encouraged them to have children since they will eventually add to the number of slaves within their portfolio and basically more hands to till and plough their lands (Dawidoff, and Cunliffe 289). It is also reported that the American farmers preferred African slaves not only because they were strong and hardworking but also from their extensive of tobacco farming from their native countries and continent.
By mid-17th century, tobacco had become an essential commodity in barter trade. During that period, there value of gold and silver was decreasing drastically and as such, tobacco was embraced for accountability and standardization of trade. The colonial government in America rated tobacco and consequently, related its weight with values. Eventually, more English goods were traded equally with tobacco. Haviland shares that “Imports of tobacco into England increased from 60,000 pounds in 1622 to 500,000 pounds in 1628, and to 1,500,000 pounds in 1639. Such dramatic growth in demand for tobacco eventually led to overproduction of the commodity, and in turns extreme devaluation of tobacco” (Haviland 100). As a result of the decreasing value of the cash crop, tobacco farmers were known to add dirt and leaves which assisted them in increasing the weight but resulted in significant lowering of the quality.
With many farmers in America engaging in tobacco farming, English settlers spearhea...