Alcohol in Early America and Its Relationship to the British Empire

The alcoholic beverages that eventually played such a pivotal role in the politics of the American Revolution and the original colonies' relationship with the British Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries had a tradition that began long before the first settlers traveled to North America, and continued in colonial America as people used alcoholic beverages and public drinking as an extension of their culture, a forum for ideas, a method of communication, a source of news/current events, and a way to interact with strangers in a time when travel was slow and dangerous, and the "broadcasting" of news from outlying areas was even slower. The opportunity to share a drink and conversation with new people was a rare treat to be savored. In order to fully understand this unique relationship between alcohol and early America, a look into England's past is necessary.

Britain's "Spiritual" Tradition

Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, have their roots in the origins of civilization, when fermented beverages were created as a substitute for water that was unfit to drink. England's tradition of alcoholic beverages spans back to the late 11th century, following the Norman Conquest, when local pubs in the small towns throughout the English countryside became centers of life outside of the usual home environment¹. In the centuries to follow, Britain became supreme on the high seas and the most formidable military power in the western hemisphere, enjoying a thriving trade and commerce with the American colonies, which Britain gained sole control over after victory over France in the French and Indian War of the 1750's and 1760's². As people began to gather at the taverns of England, meaningful discussions began to take place regarding politics, religion, social conditions, and other key issues.

¹Norman Conquest. Wikipedia. 12 Dec. 2005 .

² Funk & Wagnall. "American Revolution." Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 2005 ed.

For the first time, the working class poor had a forum for the free expression of their ideas. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the discussions that took place over cups of fermented hops in local drinking establishments led to the belief that greater freedom, opportunity, and a better quality of life awaited those who took advantage of the chance to leave England and start over in the colonies that the British Empire had established on the east coast of the North American continent. Beer can be considered the fuel for the fire of emigration to the new world; emigration which was encouraged by the British crown in order to build a stable workforce in the colonies and foster economic growth in America. Drinking was commonplace, and served as the common denominator for conversation, sharing of news, and entertainment during that particular period in history.

Alcohol, leading to camaraderie and the sense of community that was born in English ale houses, served as the inspiration for many people to risk their futures, and even their lives on an exciting new land that lay on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. When people were able to understand that there were others who were just as dissatisfied with a life of drudgery and poverty as they were; people in similar dire straits who had an inner drive to better themselves and escape the oppression of the British crown, the decision to leave their homeland became that much easier.

The British government did not always share this energetic view of alcohol; in fact, there is evidence that action was proposed many times to address the issue of alcoholic beverages and their consumption. A document dating from the 1730's, detailing suggestions offered to the House of Commons, gives us unique insight into some official viewpoints as well as the recommendations to deal with alcohol.

This document begins by citing "that the landed interest suffers greatly by the distilling of spirituous liquors; the malignant effects they (alcoholic beverages)have upon human bodies; and the several disorders and immoralities occasioned by this sort of excess-that all ranks and orders of men are concerned in using their utmost

endeavors to put an immediate stop to it¹. The writing of the House of Commons goes on to acknowledge that distillers are skilled tradesmen who should not be prohibited from making a living from producing alcohol, but considering the assertion made that because of alcohol, "all manners of vice increases, such as murders, robberies, and firing of houses" and alcohol delivers "dreadful consequences to the female sex and their unhappy children". The document goes further to comment on the fact that farmers often devoted the raising of crops for ingredients to be distilled into alcohol, rather than using it for the production of bread and other items that people need to eat. Again, this information is coupled with the assertion that people who drink do not eat as much. Bottom line was a theory that when people are engaged in consuming alcoholic beverages, they consume fewer foodstuffs, consequently buying less, which leads to less demand for these goods. When the demand lessens, so does production, and therefore, the tax revenue that the food producers would normally pay. This thinking led to the Gin Tax of 1736. As an aside, a discussion of the English phenomenon of gin is warranted within the context of the Gin Tax.

¹British House of Commons. Distilled Spiritous Liquors-The Bane of the Nation. J Roberts, 1736.

Originally, gin started out as an inexpensive medicine, thought to be a valid cure for gout and indigestion; advertising in the city of London offered people the opportunity to become intoxicated for a penny¹. Gin was often given to some workers in lieu of pay for the labors, and was sold by barbers, grocers and street merchants. Because of its affordability and availability, it was consumed by the masses in mass quantities. The fact of the matter was that other popular alcoholic beverages of the time, such as brandy and wine, were too expensive for the poor working class, adding to gin's attractiveness. It is estimated that in the early 1700's, in London alone, there were more than 7,000 locations where gin could be bought, and millions of gallons of gin were distilled in the capital city¹.

There were many ill effects of gin noted at that time; men were made impotent and women were made sterile, which contributed to a birth rate at that time which was lowered than the documented death rate¹.

¹Mother's Ruin. Culture UK. 14 Dec. 2005 .

Government officials became highly concerned when the proliferation of gin led to population decline. More importantly, when the British government estimated how much money was being spent on gin, it became apparent that there must be a way for "big brother" to gain financially from the gin boom; therefore, a tax on gin, named appropriately The Gin Tax, was imposed to raise revenue on the thriving alcoholic economy. The main feature of this tax was the requirement that a license be purchased in order to be allowed to sell "distilled spirituous liquor". Only a few licenses were purchased, and many dealers of gin sold off their stock at a discount prior to the tax going into effect, instead of paying for a license.

Rather than filling the government's coffers with millions of pounds, the tax instead created a black market for gin, where "bootleggers" distilled gin underground and sold it as such. Much like the Prohibition era in America, although legal gin sales were encouraged for the tax revenue, illegal gin sales, without taxes being paid became commonplace; entire black market organizations were formed, complete with dealers, pushers and runners. The illicit nature of this gin did nothing to curb the sales; in fact, much of the gin was being consumed by women, leading to neglected children, an increase in prostitution, and other negative effects of excessive consumption of gin by the female population. Other females even gave gin to noisy children to keep them quiet. Because of the fact that gin was mostly consumed by the common people, the poor, and the less than desirable segments of the population, drunkenness led to increases in crime; debtor's prisons overflowed and long lines formed to the gallows for the more serious crimes people committed while under the influence of gin.

Another negative effect of the black market in gin should be noted; while the "legally produced" gin was not always of the highest purity either, the "bathtub gin" that was secretly made in the back alleys of London was even worse. Many people were sickened, and even poisoned by the effects of impure alcohol production. Irrational behavior also flourished when the gin freely flowed in the streets of London; reports allege that people sold off their possessions, livestock, tools needed for their work, or even their children in order to obtain the funds to buy more gin, sounding eerily similar to the illegal drug problems that are found across the globe today. A huge domino effect of events seemed to surround gin, from the production, distribution, sale and consumption of it. Chaos abounded when gin was involved, leading the government to reexamine the Gin Tax. Eventually, the tax was repealed, and the sale of gin was resumed as normal, but gin consumption seemed to taper off during the 18th century.

Beer became a more popular beverage in the 1830's, when the Duke of Wellington's administration passed the Sale of Beer Act, which removed restrictions on beer sales, and allowed anyone to sell beer with the payment of a very modest license fee. This, in turn, made beer an affordable alternative to gin, with fewer ill effects, and a more drinkable beverage, leading to its increased popularity, not to mention the fact that beer was readily available, and no one had to become an underground criminal to enjoy a drink. Beer was also easier to produce, and more varieties were available due to the various styles of brewing that existed in Britain at that time. The success and popularity of beer as a common beverage is evidenced by the statistic that by the end of the 1830s, there were 24,000 beer shops in England and Wales, and in the 1840's, that number nearly doubled¹.

England's alcoholic tradition was a proud one that was continued by those who left England for the American colonies. This occurrence provides for an interesting discussion of alcohol's arrival in the colonies from "across the pond", as the English would say. This legacy, as we will show in the research, played a pivotal role in the history of the development of the American colonies, and the eventual quest for independence from Britain and formation of a new nation and revolutionary experiment in democracy.

Alcohol Arrives in Colonial America

Along with their hopes, dreams and drive, the early settlers of America's British Colonies brought with them the thirst for beer, and the resourcefulness and techniques for brewing it. Much like the proliferation of many different types of beers in the streets of London following the gin controversy that the research previously examined

¹Mother's Ruin. Culture UK. 14 Dec. 2005 .

and discussed, the beers that were produced in the colonies were indicative of the origin of the early colonists, such as English, Welsh, or Scottish, combining their native brewing techniques with the grains that were available in the colonies and inventing unique flavors for old standards. This kept the loyalty of long time beer drinkers and even attracted new drinkers to the appeal of beer, which was viewed as somewhat of a proud heritage, linking the "old country" and the "new world" in a sort of alcoholic family tradition. People sang the many praises of the delicious mixture of hops, wheat, rice, and other wholesome grains, which was viewed basically in the same light as bread for the sustenance and well being of the common people and upper class alike, with no apparent age limit, as beer was commonly shared between adults and children at that time. Far from being viewed as something negative or bad for you, beer was viewed as a necessary element for good health, as well as a source of cultural identity. The various ethnic groups held a kind of friendly rivalry between the different styles of beer from their native lands, reflecting the phenomenon of our modern day sports teams. Ironically enough, in contrast to today's view that alcoholic excess is not always socially acceptable, religious groups such as Puritans viewed the consumption of beer as a routine occurrence, including over indulgence during special occasions¹. This view of beer sharply contrasted the view of other alcoholic beverages, such as gin, which were viewed as too intoxicating, as opposed to the wholesome beer that was consumed on a daily basis². Far from being viewed as evil, drinking, at least of beer, was a completely acceptable activity; excessive consumption of alcohol was prevented by the tavern keeper, a person who was held in high authority with a great deal of influence. If people did behave violently, alcohol was not blamed; rather, bad behavior was usually attributed to bad decisions on the part of the individual. The floggings or other punishments that people received for misdeeds of bad people who also happened to be drunkards. An interesting quote on the subject was attributed to Benjamin Franklin, when he allegedly said, "beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". The view of habitual drunkenness as a disease would not be presented until

¹Smith, Gregg. Brewing in Colonial America, Part 1. 12 Dec. 2005 .

²Salinger, Sharon V. Taverns and Drinking in Early America. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins U P, 2002.

³Peele, Stanton. From the Colonial Tavern to the Temperance Lecturn. 1995. Diseasing of America. Ed. . Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Benjamin Rush, a physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, presented it in 1784, and the depiction of "Demon Rum" did not emerge until the early 1800s.

Although this research focuses on the relationship between alcohol and the British empire, it is interesting and important to note that many non-British immigrants came to America during the colonial period, and brought with them other forms of beer culture and taste, as well as providing the colonial taverns with an interesting mix of people from different backgrounds and cultures¹. The tavern, it could be said, was the first place in the colonies where diversity was explored and practiced. For all of the differences among these people, however, there were common values and goals among them, particularly the quest for freedom.

When taverns were founded, they stood as much more than simply a place for the tavern keeper to make a living and for strangers to rest their horses and themselves after a hard day of travel in the extreme heat or cold;

¹Baron, Stanly. Brewed in America. New York: Arno P, 1972.

the tavern became a clearinghouse for ideas, a forum for debate, and an auditorium for the presentation of news stories from wherever a traveler had come. As ideas were exchange, points of view debated, and alcohol consumed, the modest, small town tavern grew in importance and social relevance. When the tradition of alcohol and taverns sailed across the Atlantic, it brought with it the seeds of revolution, and the tavern as political forum was born.

The Colonial Tavern as Political Forum

As previously mentioned, the people who came to North America as British subjects living in the original 13 colonies, brought with them the tradition of drinking alcohol, and the place where most drinking happened, the tavern. In the "new world", taverns in which beer was shared among people in a public setting again took on a special role in the political, religious, and social commentary of the day, as it did back in England. While the local church or meetinghouse was a focal point on the Sabbath, the tavern was open to the public on the other six days of the week, providing drink, food and even shelter for traveling strangers. In an era that offered horseback as the most effective method of travel, strangers could stop, rest their horses, and have an opportunity to communicate with new people¹. In this way, people gathering together to share alcoholic beverages was an effective mode of communication in the growing colonies. While news from other areas would travel slowly if at all, the conversations that took place in taverns among travelers and local people were akin to the news broadcasts of the day. Current events were discussed, debated, and disputed; varying points of view could be obtained at the firesides of taverns in every small town. Alcohol was a common thread that brought people of different social classes and backgrounds together in a common setting, something that did not often take place elsewhere. When alcoholic beverages were shared in a common setting such as the tavern, the difference in social standing, education, and occupation disappeared. The blurring of these social divisions, and the often blurring effects of indulgence in alcohol, led to the free exchange of ideas which rarely occurred anywhere else, if at all. The jovial atmosphere, often accentuated by entertainment of various types and

¹ Larkin, Jack. "New England Taverns." Early American Life (Camp Hill, PA) Oct. 2004: 50+.

fueled by rivers of beer, loosened tongues and encouraged free speech. Far from being restricted, free speech in local taverns, as well as the operation of the taverns themselves, was encouraged by local governments and the English crown, but more for the reason that the contentment, or lack of it, among the English subjects could be monitored¹. In spite of this supervision, or perhaps in part because of it, people began discussing the possibility of breaking away from English rule.

Much as the tax on gin fueled a sort of revolution back in England, actions that were taken by the British crown against American colonists fueled a great deal of resentment within the colonies.

The Stamp Act, passed in 1765 by Parliament, required colonists to purchase and use specially "stamped" paper for all official documents, legal paperwork, newspaper publication, and the like in an effort to raise revenue, most of which, ironically enough, went to finance the tens of thousands of British troops stationed in the colonies to

¹Smith, Gregg. Brewing in Colonial America, Part 1. 12 Dec. 2005 .

maintain order. Violators of the Act were subject to prosecution before a British judge, without the benefit of a jury.

Far from maintaining order and raising lots of tax monies, the Stamp Act only fueled the fire of rebellion among the colonists. Rioting broke out, and organizations such as the Sons of Liberty were formed to promote the idea of American independence. This Act led to the classic argument that taxation without representation is tyranny that every history book on the subject seems to feature. In 1766, the Act was repealed only because the refusal to purchase the taxed goods from Britain led to a slump in the British economy.

In 1767, the hunger for tax money once again led Britain to enact a tax- this time on tea, glass, paint, and other goods, known as the Townshend Act. This Act led to the famous Boston Tea Party, when cases of imported tea were dumped into Boston Harbor in protest.

Eventually, the Continental Congress was formed, holding its first meeting in 1774, with representatives present from all of the colonies except Georgia¹. Without dwelling too deeply into an analysis of every action of the quest for American independence, it will suffice for this research to state that all of these occurrences led to the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Revolutionary War also leads to a brief discussion on how alcohol was involved in the war itself.

Beer on the Battlefield?

Although, to be sure, there had to have been alcoholic consumption in the course of battle, there is little research that discusses this aspect of the war, perhaps as a reflection of the wish to downplay any weakness among soldiers engaged in the fighting on either side. Based on previous research, however, it is a reasonable assumption that beer was readily available.

For those who were unfortunate enough to be captured on either side, however, research indicates that there was

¹ Funk & Wagnall. "American Revolution." Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 2005 ed.

little to celebrate. Starvation, disease, and exposure often spelled death for those who were prisoners of war. Even if the armies whished to take better care of POWs, the funds did not exist to enable them to do so¹.

Also, the nature of medical treatment available during this period of history, to be sure, played a role in the demise of many prisoners, even if the treatment was being administered with good intentions.

Despite the poor conditions of the common soldier, officers most likely enjoyed a bit more comfort, allowing them to make sound decisions and leading to the eventual victory for American independence.

When independence was gained, the leaders of the revolution, such as Jefferson and Washington, were praised and toasted as the heroes that they were. Their sacrifice was applauded across the land. Along with this fame, the Founding Fathers enjoyed many privileges, among which was

¹ Ranlet, Philip. "In the Hands of the British: The Treatment of American Pows during the War of Independence." The Historian 62.4 (2000): 731.

an abundance of alcoholic beverages. An interesting account of such as situation centers on the Father of Our Country, George Washington himself.

Our Founding Father and Alcohol

George Washington, having gained great wealth in the fight for independence, penned these words to his farm manager, James Anderson: "I consent to you commencing a distillery, and approve of you purchasing the still, and I shall not object to your converting part of the coopers shop at the mill for this operation"¹.

As a matter of fact, the addition of a distillery to his estate turned out to be a wise decision from many points of view. A main advantage was the fact that the crops grown on the plantation could immediately be used at the distillery, leading to an "instant cash crop". After the first few months of the operation of Washington's Distillery, a major expansion of the facility was proposed. When running at prime capacity, the distillery could

¹ George, Philip Brandt. "George Washington-Patriot...and Purveyor of Fine Spirits." American History Magazine February 2004.

produce hundreds of gallons of sour mash, the base of whiskey itself, as well as 80 gallons of finished whiskey every few months¹. In fact, the whiskey was so valuable that it had to be stored in locked buildings for fear of theft, which was a rare occurrence on plantations at that time, except when alcohol was involved.

The sale of Washington's whiskey is also interesting to discuss. When the whiskey was produced, the best grades of whiskey were set aside; small amounts of top grade whiskey were kept by Washington himself for personal use, and the rest was sold to other upper class gentlemen in exchange for cash payment, other goods, or services. In addition to the various grades of whiskey Washington produced, he also expanded into small quantities of fruit brandies and rums. It should be noted, however, that the whiskey that Washington produced at that time would be less like today's whiskeys and more like a "moonshine" type of beverage, which was extremely strong. This "white lightning" accounted for approximately 90% of Washington's whiskey sales¹.

¹George, Philip Brandt. "George Washington-Patriot...and Purveyor of Fine Spirits." American History Magazine February 2004.

In its most productive year, Washington's Distillery produced nearly 10,000 gallons of whiskey, with a sizeable profit of about $7,500, which was quite a considerable sum at that time. Under Washington's supervision, the distillery realized its greatest successes.

After Washington's death in 1799, the distillery fell into decline, and had all but disappeared by the early 1800s due to poor management, and hence, poor performance. However, in his heyday, out Founding Father was also a Whiskey Wizard!

Alcohol in Large American Cities

The large cities embraced the freedom provided by the newly formed United States of America, and the alcohol flowed freely. One of the most successful cities for the sale, and consumption of alcohol, was Philadelphia.

As a port city, Philadelphia played host to thriving commerce, and thirsty sailors. In fact, Philadelphia

averaged a tavern for every 25 drinkers in the city at any
given time¹. When William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, arrived in 1682, taverns were already operating in the city.

Out of all of Philadelphia's taverns from centuries gone by, one establishment from the colonial period, the Man Full of Trouble Tavern, still exists. Hidden from the prying eyes of unwanted visitors, the tavern features a secret tunnel in the basement, which was used to smuggle contraband during the Revolutionary War, thereby avoiding payment of tariffs on imported goods. Some of the more colorful names for taverns to be found in the streets of Philadelphia in that era include the Cock Robin, Three Jolly Irishmen and others located in such colorful sections of Philadelphia as the aptly named Helltown, a section of the city that attracted thieves, gamblers, prostitutes, homeless people, and an assortment of other questionable characters. As a matter of fact, many servants of the city's wealthy people would "borrow" their masters' horses and slip into Helltown for the evening, and special stables were available to hide the horses if anyone was searching

¹ Mauger, Ed. Taverns on the Green:Drinking in 18th Century Philadelphia. 13 Dec. 2005
for them, although it is unlikely that many people came to Helltown asking questions.

As taverns opened, one after another, to accommodate the thirsty people of Philadelphia and her many visitors, the city officials were quite concerned about crime and public drunkenness. Laws were passed to protect public decency, and the licenses to operate taverns were limited to "widows and decrepit men of good character"¹. It was thought that if people of suitable character operated taverns that the rowdy drinkers could be kept under wraps and made to behave properly. This is not to say that drinking and parties were limited strictly to the lower classes or criminal element of the day.

Gentlemen also knew how to have a party in this colonial party town. Philadelphia is also known for hosting one of the biggest parties of colonial times in 1787, when a celebration was held in honor of George Washington during the time that he served at the Constitutional Convention. The 55-man banquet consumed, among other items, 54 bottles

¹ Mauger, Ed. Taverns on the Green:Drinking in 18th Century Philadelphia. 13 Dec. 2005

of wine, 22 bottles of porter/beer/cider, and 7 bowls of spiked punch, not to mention the 7 bowls of spiked punch and 5 bottles of wine that the 16 musicians hired to entertain at the event drank in addition to what was enjoyed by the guests¹.

Surely, it is not exaggerating to say that the consumption of alcohol was viewed in various settings as medicinal, as well as a way to cope with the grim realities of colonial life, to celebrate victories, and to wash away the pain of defeat. Many of these uses for alcohol remain popular to the present day.

Other Aspects of Alcohol in the New Nation

As another dimension to the discussion of alcohol in early America, it is interesting to discuss the role that alcohol played in the politics of the new nation. One of the most noteworthy events of the time was the Whiskey Rebellion.
¹Mauger, Ed. Taverns on the Green:Drinking in 18th Century Philadelphia. 13 Dec. 2005

The Whiskey Rebellion, lauded as then President Washington's most decisive action as newly elected President of the United States, involved the provision of food, and whiskey, to rebellious militias in Western Pennsylvania, as well as rampant bootlegging in that area. In response, President Washington dispatched some 12,500 troops to put down the Rebellion, restoring peace and order in the new nation, and cementing his role as an able, and assertive leader as Commander in Chief¹.

Final Thoughts on Alcohol in Early America

The alcoholic tradition that traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from England to the colonies, for better or worse, brought a great deal of meaningful change. It expanded communication, brought people together, and led to the greatest experiment in democracy that the world has ever known. This set the stage for many of the events that take place, even in today's more advanced world of technology and communication. It is hard to believe that beverages could do such a thing, but as was stated earlier

¹"Whiskey Insurrection/Rebellion." Whiskey Rebellion.org. 2004. 13 Dec. 2005 .

in the research, rivers of beer flowed, and brought with them the tides of change, freedom, and liberty for a new nation, which would later change the world. The drinkers of all social classes played important parts in the drama that led to the beginning of the United States of America, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages led to commerce, sharing of news, blending of different classes of people, and of course, revolution. For all of its bad points, one must acknowledge that alcohol has fueled the fire of freedom throughout our history, and will continue to do so for centuries to come, as a celebration of freedom and friendship.

Works Cited

British House of Commons. Distilled Spiritous Liquors-The Bane of the Nation. Ed. . Warwick Lane: J Roberts, 1736.
Baron, Stanly. Brewed in America. New York: Arno P, 1972.
Funk & Wagnall. "American Revolution." Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 2005 ed.
George, Philip Brandt. "George Washington-Patriot...and Purveyor of Fine Spirits." American History Magazine February 2004.
Gildrie, Richard P. "Taverns and Drinking in Early America." Journal of Southern History 70.3 (2004)
Kross, Jessica. "Mansions, Men Women, and the Creation of Multiple Publics in Eighteenth-Century British North America." Journal of Social History 33.2 (1999)
Larkin, Jack. "New England Taverns." Early American Life (Camp Hill, PA) Oct. 2004: 50+.
Mauger, Ed. Taverns on the Green:Drinking in 18th Century Philadelphia. 13 Dec. 2005 .
Mother's Ruin. Culture UK. 14 Dec. 2005 .
"Music of the Revolution Not Made in America; Colonials Set
Early Lyrics to British Tunes." The Washington Times 3 July 2003: M14.
Neimark, Jill, Claire Conway, and Peter Doskoch. "Back from the Drink." Psychology Today Sept.-Oct. 1994: 46+.
Norman Conquest. Wikipedia. 12 Dec. 2005 .
Peele, Stanton. From the Colonial Tavern to the Temperance Lecturn. 1995. Diseasing of America. Ed. . Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Ranlet, Philip. "In the Hands of the British: The Treatment of American Pows during the War of Independence." The Historian 62.4 (2000): 731.
Salinger, Sharon V. Taverns and Drinking in Early America. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins U P, 2002.
Smith, Gregg. Brewing in Colonial America, Part 1. 12 Dec. 2005 .
"Whiskey Insurrection/Rebellion." Whiskey Rebellion.org. 2004. 13 Dec. 2005 .