American Tobacco and European Consumers

King James stated that the English Colonies in the Chesapeake were mostly developed on smoke and tobacco. Colonies were highly successful in the tobacco industry because Europeans were willing to pay large amounts of money for tobacco. They used tobacco for many different reasons including sniffing, chewing, and drinking. During the 16th century, Europe received its first shipment of tobacco and physicians were overjoyed. They believed it was a ‘wonder drug’ that would help cure people that were sick, and also keep people healthy that weren’t already sick. Between the 17th and 18th centuries the amount of tobacco imported to Europe increased rapidly, growing from about 25,000 pounds to 40 million. Tobacco changed the face of Europe. New industries emerged to produce all different kinds of pipes to aid people in smoking tobacco. Industries also needed to make boxes and tins to store unused tobacco, pipe cleaners, and some way to light up the tobacco. Smoking became an addiction for many people and they would even keep a pipe near their pillow so that if the urge to smoke arose in the middle of the night they wouldn’t have to go far to satisfy the need for a light. It is clear that tobacco changed the way Europe operated and Chesapeake is to thank for it, whether it be a good or bad thing.