The Importance of alcohol

The British colonies in the southern part of America

The British colonies in the southern part of America were split into two major territories, which included Maryland and Virginia, which were known as the Chesapeake colonies. Cecilus Calvert, the second Lord of Baltimore, supported these colonies in order to shield Catholics from persecution. According to Meacham in Chesapeake, alcohol was drunk by both men and women, and since tea, coffee, and milk were too pricey, only a small group of people could afford them. As a result, beer was the most often consumed beverage. During the 18th century, however, women on small plantations dominated the alcohol supply; the small plantation could not produce enough this followed by the establishment of large plantations, which men controlled. This paper discusses the importance of alcohol in the colonial period and how gender influences its consumption.

Importance of alcohol

Alcohol acted as a uniting factor since it was common among the majority citizens of Chesapeake colonies. It brought together men and women from different classes, race, religion and political affiliations. According to Meacham, both the Protestant and the Catholics who were in a constant conflict came together at taverns where they interacted and bonded. However, the taverns were also found to be a convenient place for business purpose due to the large numbers of people. They attracted many traders who were searching for markets to sell their products. Also, the politician took advantages of the big population and the social forums to articulate their agendas alongside gaining knowledge and ideas on what problems and challenges faced the people.

Alcohol was a source of income

Alcohol was a source of income for both the colonial government and the public. In the mid eighteenth century, the production of cider was shifted to large-scale production for commercial uses. The owners and employees of the taverns benefited a lot from cash generated from the sales of liquor. The government, on the other hand, introduced license fees for the bar owners, which they were, required to be issued by the magistrate. However, there was an exemption for women who owned the taverns from paying the fee. They were perceived to be civilizing influences as stated by Meacham.

Alcohol was used for medicinal purpose

Additionally, alcohol was used for medicinal purpose. In the seventeenth and the eighteenth century, it was believed that alcohol was a cure to many deceases such as fever and injuries. In most cases, it was used to reduce pain and to stop bleeding. Nevertheless, it could enliven the old, strengthen the weak, aided digestion and mind relaxation. In conclusion, alcohol was an essential factor for good health in the Maryland and Virginia. A good example is a case where pregnant women were provided small amounts of alcohol to reduce the labor pain. This among other reasons prompted most households to produce alcohol for their household purpose.

Alcohol created numerous employment opportunities

As explained by Meacham, alcohol created numerous employment opportunities. Alcohol has been evolving over the years with the inventions of the thermometers, hydrometers and the Alembic still these saw its transformation from being perceived as an art to a science. Its production processes changed from the traditional women cookbooks to a more professional way which needed a skilled workforce to be employed for this process. Nevertheless, the increase in the number of the taverns and the large production also induced the unskilled laborer to be hired to work in those production plants and to provide service to the bars.

Alcohol was used for cooking and cleaning

Alcohol was used for cooking and cleaning. As explained by Smedley, Audrey, and Brian, alcohol has been proven to bond well with fat and water giving food the taste and aroma. Besides the ingredient part of alcohol, it is also used as fuel; alcohol contains ethanol, which is highly flammable it burns to produce water and carbon dioxide. On the other hand, alcohol was used in the rubbing of glass while cleaning, besides that, it was used for the sterilization of surgical instrument in the Chesapeake colonies.

Influence of gender on the consumption of alcohol

Alcohol consumption was gendered meaning both men and women in the colonial period consumed it. However men drunk largest proportion as Meacham puts it men consumed alcohol in public places such as churches polling places and taverns as opposed to their women counterpart who mostly drank on special occasions such as marriage or during quilting. She posits that much was not written forbidding women from drinking, even to drunkenness, despite them being lower consumers.

In Chesapeake, gender was centrally based more so in the preparation of alcohol

In Chesapeake, gender was centrally based more so in the preparation of alcohol. According to past studies, by seventeenth-century women engaged in alcohol production due to its traditional use which include cooking, cleaning, and medicinal remedies. This contributed to alcohol being produced in small plantations as its consumption was household based until late eighteenth when men embarked to its preparation mainly for commercial purposes. By the time of revolution in America, women were prohibited from selling liquor to soldiers and even shut out in the entire alcohol business. This had a negative effect on the consumption of liquor based that women were at the forefront in the production and use of alcohol. This business was only perceived to be men venture only, with the military market being in their hands.

Conclusion

Based on the above discussion, it is clear alcohol was of greater significance to the Chesapeake colonies because it created employment, was a source of income and was used for medicinal purpose among others. It is further evident that gender had a significant influence on the consumption rate of alcohol. This is in the sense that the society gave men more freedom and rights to consume alcohol as compared to the women who had some limitations.

References

Meacham, Sarah H. Every Home a Distillery: Alcohol, Gender, and Technology in the Colonial

Chesapeake. JHU Press, 2009.

Smedley, Audrey, and Brian D. Smedley. Race in North America: Origin and evolution of a worldview. Westview Press, 2012.

Dickmann, Donald I., Judson G. Isebrands, James E. Eckenwalder, and James Richardson, Eds. Poplar culture in North America. NRC Research Press, 2002.

Hack, John Tilton. Studies of Tindall, George Brown, and David E. Shi. America: A narrative history. WW Norton & Company, 2016.

Phung, Thao T., Julia A. King, and Douglas H. Ubelaker. “Alcohol, Tobacco, and Excessive Animal Protein: The Question of an Adequate Diet in the Seventeenth-Century Chesapeake.” Historical Archaeology 43, no. 2 (2009): 62-83.