Publication Date
12-15-2021
Document Type
Working Paper
Advisor
Professor John Hall
Journal of Economic Literature Classification Codes
N11, N31, N51
Key Words
Colonial America, Cultivation of Hemp, Durability, Industrial Hemp, Revival
Abstract
This inquiry seeks to establish that in the early United States industrial hemp emerged as an important crop. In Colonial America, hemp was a desirable commodity that attracted capital investments into its cultivation and processing. Because of its durability and strength, hemp fibers had substantial worth in the production of thread, rope, and heavy canvas. Not only was the cultivation of hemp important for the development of a variety of household products, but hemp also played a military role, as the hemp fibers were spun, woven, and fashioned into sails that provided wind power for commercial and military navies. However, as time passed hemp’s importance waned.
Rights
© 2022 Olivia Carrillo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38589
Citation Details
Olivia Carrillo. "The Importance of Industrial Hemp in the Early United States, Working Paper No. 60", Portland State University Economics Working Papers. 60. (15 December 2021) i + 14 pages.