key term - New England Rum

Definition

New England Rum refers to the alcoholic beverage produced primarily in the New England colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries, made from sugarcane byproducts like molasses. This rum became a significant commodity in the transatlantic trade, linking New England merchants to the Caribbean and Europe, while also playing a key role in the triangular trade system that connected America, Africa, and Europe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. New England Rum was a key product of the New England economy, leveraging abundant access to molasses imported from the Caribbean.
2. Rum was often used as a form of currency in trade with Africa for enslaved people, showcasing its vital role in the triangular trade system.
3. By the mid-18th century, New England was producing over 1 million gallons of rum annually, making it one of the leading rum producers in the world.
4. The popularity of rum contributed to social customs in colonial America, including its use in taverns and as part of religious rituals.
5. The decline of New England Rum production began after the American Revolution due to changing trade patterns and increased competition from Caribbean rum producers.

Review Questions

• How did New England Rum fit into the larger context of the triangular trade system?
  • New England Rum was integral to the triangular trade system as it linked the New England colonies with both Africa and the Caribbean. Merchants would exchange rum for enslaved people in Africa, who were then transported to work on sugar plantations in the Caribbean. The molasses produced from these plantations was sent back to New England, where it was used to make more rum, creating a cyclical economy that thrived on these interconnected trade routes.
• Analyze how the Molasses Act impacted the production of New England Rum and its role in transatlantic trade.
  • The Molasses Act of 1733 aimed to restrict colonial imports of molasses from non-British territories by imposing high taxes. This legislation significantly affected New England Rum production because it raised costs for distillers who relied on cheaper foreign molasses. Many colonists responded by smuggling molasses to avoid taxes, demonstrating how legislative attempts to control trade often led to resistance and altered trading practices within the transatlantic economy.
• Evaluate the social and economic consequences of New England Rum production on colonial society and its connection to slavery.
  • The production of New England Rum had profound social and economic consequences for colonial society. Economically, it fueled trade networks that not only enriched merchants but also established rum as a staple commodity influencing market dynamics. Socially, rum became entwined with colonial culture, found in taverns and social gatherings. However, this prosperity came at a dire cost; it relied heavily on the slave trade, connecting affluent colonial lifestyles with the brutal realities of slavery, raising ethical questions about commerce and human rights during that era.

Related terms

Triangular Trade:

A system of transatlantic trade routes that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods such as slaves, rum, and sugar.

Molasses Act: An act passed by the British Parliament in 1733 that imposed a tax on molasses imported into the colonies from non-British territories, aiming to protect British sugar producers.

Slave Trade:

The forced transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas to work on plantations, which was crucial for producing sugar and rum.