The Alcoholic Republic HSPC 106 Adriyel Carrillo

Adriyel Carrillo
HSPC 106
Galarza

Alcohols acceptance in American society has made its home in the idea that certain types of alcohol is for certain classes of people. Which ascertains to one of the direct themes of our HSPC 106 course on race, ethics, and class. W.J. Rorabough’s book The Alcoholic Republic: An American Tradition explains and describes the history, role, and toll alcohol took on Colonial and American society from the late 1700’s and late 1800’s. Rorabough explains clearly and concisely throughout the book. His detail shows that a lot of research and effort was put into the creation of this gem. This book was Very informative regarding all aspects of alcohol. Rorabough goes on to make the point that alcohol had a significant responsibility in the birth, and through the life of America. Alcohol was emphasized in the economical, social and behavioral, and the overall shaping of America.
The preface how with the discovery of the temperance pamphlets Rorabough began his project. His research showed that Americans between 1770 and 1830 the consumption of alcoholic beverages was at its highest. During this time period Americas consumption of alcohol at this point was at its highest. Since then has never reached the same proportions nor has it come close. Also mentioned in the preface was that historians failed to reveal that America had been one of the “Worlds Best Drinking Counties”. Other historical discoveries mentioned that John Marshal, Andrew Jackson, and the social role of women all in regards to alcohol. This mixes the history and social science behind Americas marriage with alcohol.
In Rorabough’s book, the question “Is America A Nation Of Drunkards?” was brought to light. America consumed more alcohol than the Irish, English and Prussians but drank about the same level as the Scots and French, but Sweden still held the number one spot. Which in the book states a memorable quote that I enjoyed to read Page 1 “A comparison of annual per capita intake of alcohol in the United States, Americans drank more than the English, Irish and Prussians, about the same as the Scots and French and less than Swedes. That was a favorite fun fact. In a graph on Americas consumption of alcohol shows that in 1830 the peak of alcohol consumption was just above five gallons annually per capita. It was seen, during this period, that the consumption of alcohol by women was not widely accepted. However that did not deter women from drinking.
Many things have changed since the 18th century especially the outlook Americans have on alcohols effects and benefits. At the beginning of the 18th century Americans believed that distilled spirits as well as rum, gin, and brandy were nutritious and healthful. The use of alcohol was often utilized by doctors to give to patients as an anesthetic. Before 1750 colonist in America of all social classes drank alcohol in quantity, sometimes to the point of intoxication. In the Eighteenth century most people in America drank excessively, so much so that taverns were built next to public places such as courts, public houses, and churches. Around this same era, innovations in the production of alcohol made the cost of purchasing alcohol very affordable. Common laborers could afford to get drunk everyday, because I many cases a day’s wage would buy a weeks worth of inebriation for any workman in America. This spiked an increase in demand for America, and with a larger demand came a larger amount of consumption.
This books grand depth of information kept me reading especially when mentioning Americas social sculpting. As the consumption of alcohol increased public drunkenness became more frequent. Public drunkenness became the vehicle for the expression of anger and hostility. It also became evident to some Americans that drunkenness led to thievery, and brutality. Some Americans took notice such as the Quakers and Methodist. Methodist and Quakers were the only religious denominations that opposed the consumption of distilled spirits. By the 1780’s the Quakers opposition extended to the drinking of all spirituous liquors, the belief was wide spread and vigorous. Despite these oppositions the average American still developed a traditional hearty drinking habit.
One of the most memorable stories in Roraboughs book was an event during the Revolutionary war was about the scarcity of alcohol and how American fighters dealt with it. The British issued a tariff on all imports from and to the American colonies. One of the main imports blockaded by the British were molasses and rum. With no direct rum to consume or molasses to distill rum of their own, Americans were scarce of their beloved spirits. Distillers, to keep up with the demand, temporarily switched from distilling rum to distilling whiskey. The abundance of corn made for plentiful amount of whiskey to be distilled. However wartime demand was high and distiller were unable to manufacture enough spirits in spite of the abundance of corn. Distilled liquor was often unavailable during wartime. When alcohol could be procured, the price was very high. When a battle in-sued against the Americans and the the British, A commander of the American force was almost perforated with bullets. Despite the severe battle taking place, the severity to his condition, and the extent of his wounds his complaints were not directed at the pain or the possibility of his demise but the tragedy that a bullet had made its way into his canteen and spilled all of his rum.
Rorabough made several valid points on the role alcohol took on the history of our beloved country. The social attachment of alcohol plagued all classes and people of all ethnic backgrounds in the early development in our country. I would recommend this book for anybody interested in the further knowledge or total enlightenment of the significance of alcohol in American birth and history. I honestly enjoyed reading this book but at certain points it became excessively wordy and I had to put the book down. I l enjoyed it because of the amounts of information left me feeling satisfied and physically strained, as if I had ran a mile.