Primary and Secondary Sources

Source 1

“IMPORT OF VIRGINIA TOBACCO INTO NEW YORK.” The Merchants’ Magazine and Commercial Review, Volume 18, no. 2, (1848): 211. Proquest. 

This is a primary source about Virginia’s exports of tobacco to New York, and comparing it to the previous year from when it was written. This source shows the growth in demand for tobacco.

Database: Proquest

Source 2 Book

Reasons Humbly Offered, for not Doubting the Subsidy of Tobacco from Virginia & Maryland. S.N., 1720.

This source is from an anonymous author that provides their outlook on subsidies on tobacco. It is specific to the mid-atlantic region which is relevant to my topic. It was also published in England so it is giving an international perspective on the topic.

Database: Proquest

Source 3 Journal Article

Schweitzer, Mary McKinney. “Economic Regulation and the Colonial Economy: The Maryland Tobacco Inspection Act of 1747.” The Journal of Economic History 40, no. 3 (1980): 551–69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2120753.

This source analyzes the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1747 in Maryland. This act was implanted to improve the quality of tobacco in the United States. This act also is a one of the few examples of colonial economic regulation. 

Database: JSTOR

Source 4

Paul G. E. Clemens. “From Tobacco to Grain: Economic Development on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 1660-1750.” The Journal of Economic History 35, no. 1 (1975): 256–59. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2119169.

This source provides a background on tobacco farming in Virginia and Maryland. It also talks about the events that happened that impacted tobacco sales which impacted the greater economy of the mid-atlantic area. 

Database: JSTOR

Source 5 

THE AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES: COTTON EXPORTED–NOTE TOBACCO. Baltimore: American Periodical Series II, 1827.

This source provides data on tobacco for many years in the early 19th century. It also provides data on other crops, which can be used to compare how much of the crop economy tobacco was. 

Database: Proquest

I learned about how much of an influence tobacco had on the early colonial economy. I had never thought of the regulations and laws that would have to be put in place because of how large it was. I also saw how millions of dollars were involved in tobacco imports, which I can imagine would equate to much more today. From this search, I have learned how much time it can take to find sources, especially primary sources. While some may seem promising, it is often hard to read primary sources that transcripts are not provided for. It is also important to try varying search terms that relate to my topic. For example, switching between states like Virginia and Maryland, or using trade related terms such as import and export. I often found that I could find sources about imports of tobacco, but not in my chosen region. However, primary sources are more reliable as they are typically factual accounts of data instead of an opinion-riddled article like most of the media that is spread today.

Zotero Library: https://www.zotero.org/danhuff/library