CDL #2 American Tobacco and European Consumers

 

American Tobacco and European Consumers

 

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Oneal, Malynda

4/7/2011

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1.       What do you think would be different about North American colonies and the rest of the world, if tobacco wasn’t as popular as it was/is?

The North America immigrants would have had a very different start in that they would not have ventured into Indian territory for land to turn into tobacco plantations and this would have caused much less tension with the Indian population.  The immigrants would most likely have grown fewer in number from disease, famine, and for some a return trip to Europe.  The immigrants would also not have grown in number so quickly from indentured servants arriving from Europe looking for an eventual better way of life.  In Europe there would not have been the popularity or addiction to tobacco if it were not as plentiful as it became over time.  The tobacco plantation success of the immigrants also brought African slavery to North America, as the indentured servants served their time and obtained their freedom, this brought a black and white racial aspect to North America. 

Tobacco may have still gained popularity in America over the years due to the Indian use of the substance in their daily life.  With the popularity tobacco gained across the globe over time from this European influence, and the addictive qualities of the substance, this has been a successful venture for those in the industry over many hundreds of years.  It was not until modern medicine educated most of the world population of the health risks due to tobacco use was there a significant decline in the tobacco industry success. 

2.       If the protestations of the King had been more heeded by the masses and tobacco gone out of fashion, would the English colonies have remained as strong?

If the protests of the King had been heard by the people tobacco probably would not have gained popularity and the stature that it did in Europe and society would have seen tobacco as filthy instead of a divine substance.  The English colonies would not have remained as strong because the demand for tobacco in Europe would have greatly diminished and in turn the tobacco crops would have been worth less income.  The English colonies would have been in financial ruin and would have tried to find other ventures in order to survive.  It wasn’t until the sugar cane growth in South Carolina came that it seems like the English colonies had another crop worthy of great growth potential.