August 30, 2025

Making Tobacco Bright: Creating an American Commodity

21 minutes

Explores the historical evolution of tobacco as a commodity in the United States, focusing on the period from 1617 to 1937. The author investigates how cultivation methods, manufacturing processes, and market structures transformed tobacco, particularly "Bright Tobacco," into a standardized product. It examines the intertwined agricultural and industrial aspects of tobacco production, including the impact of slavery, the Civil War, and federal regulations. The text also highlights the development of brands and distribution networks and the role of merchants, farmers, and manufacturers in shaping the industry. Ultimately, it illustrates how human choices and institutional frameworks, rather than solely natural factors, defined tobacco types and its economic trajectory.

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