A Quote from The Alcoholic Republic Americans drank on all occasions. Every social event demanded a drink. When southerners served barbecue, they roasted hogs and provided ‘plenty of whisky.’ Guests at urban dances and balls were often intoxicated: so were spectators at frontier horse races. Liquor also entered into money-making and business affairs. When a bargain was negotiated or a contract was signed, it was sealed with a drink; auctioneers passed a whiskey bottle to those who made bids. After the harvest, farmers held agricultural fairs that ended with dinners laced with dozens of toasts. Whiskey accompanied traditional communal activities such as house-raising, huskings, land clearings, and reaping. It was even served when women gathered to sew, quilt, or pick the seeds out of cotton… …Alcohol was pervasive in American society; it crossed regional, sexual, racial, and class lines. American drank at home and aboard, alone and together, at work and at play, in fun and in earnest. They drank from the crack of dawn to the crack of dawn. At nights taverns were filled with boisterous, mirth-making tipplers. American drank before meals, with meals, and after meals. They drank while working in the fields and while traveling across half a continent. They drank in their youth, and, if they lived long enough, in their old age…Early nineteenth-century America may not have been ‘a nation of drunkards,’ but Americans were certainly enjoying a spectacular binge. Rorabaugh, W. J. “The Alcoholic Republic, An American Tradition”, pp. 19-21. A Quote from The Alcoholic Republic At the beginning of the eighteenth century, tradition taught, and American, like Englishmen and Europeans, universally believed, that rum, gin, and brandy were nutritious and healthful. Distilled spirits were viewed as foods that supplemented limited and monotonous diets, as medications, that could cure colds, fevers, snakebites, frosted toes, and broken legs, and as relaxants that would relieve depression, reduce tension, and enable hardworking laborers to enjoy a moment of happy, frivolous camaraderie. Such favorable views led to a widespread use of strong drink. Before 1750 nearly all Americans of all social classes drank alcoholic beverages in quantity, sometimes to the point of intoxication. Rorabaugh, W. J. “The Alcoholic Republic, An American Tradition”, p. 25. It Says It Means* Brainstorm the most important words, phrases and passages Explain the meaning or importance of each word, phrase or passage you selected, and the quote as a whole -Americans drank in all occasions. -Guests were often intoxiated at urban dances and balls. -When a contract was signed or when a bargain was negotiated it was sealed with a drink. -Whiskey was always being served to people even -They drank all the time no matter what. -people would keep or drinking like if it was water and eventually would get sick because of it. -They would celebrate mainly with drinks for what ever reason their was. -When it came to alcohol it was being served at while their working. -Americans drank before meals while meals and after them. -Englishmen and Europeans universally believed that rum gin and brandy were nutrious and healthful. -Before 1750 nearly all americans of all social classes drank alcohol in quanity, sometimes even to the point of them intoxicating. all times even to workers and women while they were picking seeds out of cotton or sewing. -Drinking to them at all times was like water or juice. -It got to the point to where they thought it was good relief for their stress or what ever else they had going on without knowing their slowly dying. -Their was no limit to for them when it came to drinking alcohol. Summary (POV) All the people got into the habbit of drinking eveyday like if it was nothing, with out knowing the the damage they were causing to themselves and how fast in was happening with out them knowing. * or “It’s Important Because…”