Publication Date

12-15-2025

Document Type

Working Paper

Advisor

Professor John Hall

Journal of Economic Literature Classification Codes

N51, N91, O13

Key Words

Whaling, Whale oil, Nantucket, New England, Early America

Abstract

This inquiry seeks to establish that whaling activities¾and later a whaling industry¾would play important roles in the economic development of the colonies that would, with time, form into the United States of America. Drawing from historical accounts, this inquiry explores how whaling emerged as a cornerstone of the colonial, New England economy as well as the early American transatlantic trade. It shall be argued that the industry’s prosperity was driven by capital investments that included the development of specialized ships and equipment, driven by the colonists’ determination to make the whaling industry prosper. However, repeated disruptions from war, market fluctuations, and the dangerous work undertaken by whalemen exposed the industry’s vulnerabilities. Ultimately, the discovery of crude oil and the emergence of alternative products led to the rapid decline and ruin of American whaling. Thusly, we could frame this inquiry as the rise and fall of whaling in early America.

Rights

Copyright 2025 Miranda Rehaume

Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44557

Download

Share

COinS