Arielle Cruz
Alcohol played a significant role in the daily lives of Americans during the colonial period. It was believed to have health benefits and was consumed for a variety of reasons, from curing illnesses to celebrating social events. The early colonial Americans drank, imported, and manufactured large quantities of alcoholic beverages, with beer and cider being the most common drinks. Drinking was so prevalent that taverns became the center of civic life, and religious services and court sessions were often held in them. Americans also believed that drinking lukewarm alcohol was healthier than consuming cold water, especially during hot weather.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol consumption | Americans drank more alcohol than in any other era |
| Alcohol as a cure-all | Alcohol was believed to cure the sick, strengthen the weak, aid digestion, increase strength, and prevent health problems |
| Alcohol as a necessity | Alcohol was considered necessary to stay warm in hot weather and to stay hydrated when clean water was inaccessible |
| Alcohol as a social lubricant | Alcohol was consumed at social events such as christenings, weddings, funerals, trials, and election-day gatherings |
| Alcohol in taverns | Taverns were the center of civic life, often located near churches or meeting houses, and hosted religious services and court sessions |
| Alcohol and religion | Puritans believed alcohol was a natural and normal part of life, created by God and inherently good |
| Alcohol and class | Tavern owners enjoyed higher social status than the clergy |
| Alcohol and politics | Alcohol was used to tempt voters during elections, and judges interrupted court proceedings to drink |
| Alcohol and health risks | Some, like Benjamin Rush, viewed alcohol as a threat to morality and a danger to the nascent republic, and warned against alcoholism |
| Alcohol and the economy | Beer was important to the economy, with breweries supplying ordinaries and taverns, and farmers making their own beer with the help of a malster |
| Alcohol taxation | Early American legislation included licensing, regulatory, and taxation provisions for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in taverns |
| Alcohol and trade | The boycott of British goods before and during the American Revolution prompted the distillation of uniquely "American" drinks, such as Kentucky Bourbon |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol was viewed as a cure-all and health-booster
Alcohol was viewed as a cure-all and health booster in the colonial period. Americans believed that alcohol was healthier to consume than water, which they thought could make people sick. This was especially true during hot weather, when they believed that drinking cold water could be dangerous. They thought that lukewarm alcohol could provide the stomach with the warmth it needed when a person was sweating and losing heat.
Clean water was often inaccessible, and hard liquor was readily available. Even children drank hard cider, which was safer than water. Cider was served at every meal, and a typical family of six drank about 90 gallons of cider each year. Beer was also considered very important, and a brewery was one of Harvard College's first buildings. It provided a steady supply of beer for the students. In Connecticut, each town was required to have a place for buying beer.
Colonial Americans believed that alcohol could cure the sick, strengthen the weak, and enliven the aged. They drank it from dawn to dusk, starting the day with a "pick-me-up" and ending it with a "put-me-down". Whiskey was taken for colic and laryngitis, hot brandy punch for cholera, and rum-soaked cherries for a cold. Alcohol was also used to ease the discomfort of pregnant women and women in labour.
Colonists also made their own wine from fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, elderberries, gooseberries, and currants. They believed that distilled spirits were the ""water of life". Puritans, in particular, believed that alcohol was a natural and normal part of life, created by God and inherently good.
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Drinking was a social activity
The social nature of drinking was also reflected in the language used to describe alcohol consumption. Americans of the colonial period had dozens of words to describe drunkenness, with Benjamin Franklin collecting more than 200 such terms, including "addled", "afflicted", "biggy", "boozy", "busky", "buzzey", "cherubimical", "cracked", and "halfway to Concord".
The social aspect of drinking was also influenced by the belief that alcohol was healthier than water. Americans believed that drinking lukewarm alcohol during hot weather was healthier than drinking cold water, as alcohol provided the stomach with needed warmth. This belief was so strong that drinking water was considered unusual and could cause confusion among servants at social gatherings.
The social nature of drinking was also influenced by the availability and affordability of alcohol. Breweries supplied ordinaries and taverns in larger population centres, ensuring that beer was widely available and consumed before it spoiled. Cider was also widely consumed, as apple orchards were common in the area, and it was simple to make. Rum also became more widely available and affordable after 1650 when colonists began importing molasses and cane sugar directly, leading to the establishment of rum distilleries in Boston.
The social nature of drinking was also reflected in the drinking habits of the Founding Fathers. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson all enjoyed brewing or distilling their own alcoholic beverages, and Jefferson was a well-known wine connoisseur. However, it is important to note that not all Founding Fathers approved of heavy drinking. Benjamin Rush, for example, warned of the dangers of alcoholism and believed that alcohol should be consumed in moderation.
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Alcohol was seen as a necessary part of life
There were several reasons for this. Firstly, alcohol was often viewed as healthier than water, which was often polluted in cities and could make people sick. Signs were displayed at public wells, warning of the dangers of drinking cold water. Alcohol was also believed to have medicinal properties, preventing and curing illnesses such as colic and laryngitis. It was also thought to increase strength and keep people warm. Puritans, in particular, believed that God created alcohol, and that it was inherently good.
The drinking culture of the time was also influenced by the relative abundance of alcohol and the difficulties in accessing clean water. Breweries and taverns were common, and beer was widely available, although it was often weak and spoiled quickly, leading to quick consumption. Hard cider was also popular, especially in areas with many apple orchards, as it lasted longer than beer. In addition, the process of importing alcohol, particularly rum from the West Indies, could be expensive, so early settlers often brewed their own alcohol.
The prevalence of alcohol in colonial America is reflected in the language of the time, with dozens of words to describe drunkenness, such as "addled", "afflicted", and "busky", and numerous nicknames for alcoholic drinks, including "Rattle-Skull", "Stonewall", and "Whistle Belly".
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Drinking was common among all ages
Drinking was a common activity among Americans of all ages during the colonial period. Alcohol was viewed as a healthful beverage that could cure or mitigate health problems. It was believed to keep people warm, aid digestion, and increase strength. For example, whiskey was taken for colic and laryngitis, hot brandy punch was considered a cure for cholera, and rum-soaked cherries were used to treat colds. Alcohol was also seen as a way to prevent sickness caused by polluted water sources. Signs were even displayed at public wells, warning individuals of the dangers of drinking cold water during the summer.
The consumption of alcohol was not limited by time of day or social status. Many colonists started their day with a morning drink and ended it with another, with additional drinks consumed throughout the day. Drinking was prevalent among craftsmen, hired hands, shoppers, sailors, soldiers, and college students. Taverns, which were the center of civic life, often served as locations for religious services and court sessions. Judges would interrupt court proceedings to drink, and clergy were expected to drink at every house call.
Beer and cider were among the most common alcoholic beverages, with cider being served to every member of the family at breakfast, dinner, and supper. A typical family of six could consume about 90 gallons of cider per year, amounting to 15 gallons per person. Beer was also widely consumed, although importing it was expensive, so early settlers brewed their own. The first brewery in what would become British America was established in New Amsterdam in 1612.
The prevalence of alcohol consumption among all ages in colonial America was reflected in the words of John Adams, who stated: "If the ancients drank as our people drink rum and cider, it is no wonder we hear of so many possessed with devils." However, not everyone agreed with this sentiment. Benjamin Rush, a physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, warned about the dangers of alcoholism and the negative impact it could have on the young nation's future. Despite these concerns, drinking was deeply ingrained in the culture of colonial America, and it played a significant role in the daily lives of its people.
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Alcohol was a key part of civic life
The consumption of alcohol was considered healthy by the colonists. They believed it could cure or mitigate health problems, strengthen the weak, enliven the aged, and generally improve the world. It was thought to aid digestion, increase strength, and keep people warm. Whiskey was taken for colic and laryngitis, hot brandy punch was used to treat cholera, and rum-soaked cherries were a cold remedy. Alcohol was also seen as a way to stay hydrated, as clean water was often inaccessible.
Beer and cider were the first beverages of choice for the colonists, as they were simple to make. Apples for cider were readily available, and beer was made from corn, wheat, oats, persimmons, and green cornstalks. Breweries began to supply taverns and ordinaries, and beer became widely available. However, beer did not keep well, so it had to be consumed quickly. The colonists also made wine from fruits and vegetables, and distilled spirits were considered "aqua vitae" or the "water of life".
The average American in colonial times drank eight ounces of alcohol a day. They consumed beer and cider with breakfast, rum and wine with dinner, and claret, ratafias, creams, punches, and other concoctions in the evening. Drinking was so common that even children consumed alcohol, particularly hard cider, which lasts longer than regular cider. A typical family of six drank about 90 gallons of cider a year, or 15 gallons per person.
The colonists had many words to describe drunkenness, and Benjamin Franklin collected over 200 of these terms, including "addled", "afflicted", "busky", and "halfway to Concord". While most Americans loved their drink, not everyone agreed with immoderate consumption. As early as 1622, the Virginia Company of London complained that drinking was hurting the colony, and James Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, tried to ban rum. However, community values and local laws often sufficed to prevent alcohol abuse, and authorities were permitted to punish drunkenness.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcohol was integral to the daily lives of colonial Americans. It was consumed at all times of the day, during social events, and at religious services and court sessions. Alcohol was also thought to have medicinal properties, with various spirits being used to treat different ailments.
Clean water was often inaccessible, so colonial Americans drank alcohol to stay hydrated. Alcohol was also believed to be healthier than water, especially during hot weather. It was also cheaper to brew alcohol than to import beer, and beer was easier to make than wine.
Colonial Americans drank beer, cider, rum, wine, claret, ratafias, creams, punches, and other concoctions. They also had many names for alcoholic drinks, such as Rattle-Skull, Stonewall, and Bombo.
