How Did Rum Influence the Declaration of Independence?

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence · Jun 18, 2026 · 1h 3m · transcript

with Andrew Sola and Prof. Jordan B. Smith (Widener University)

In this episode, we discuss the rum industry in connection with grievances #16 and #17 in the Declaration of Independence:

"For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world"

"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent"

Topics include the following:

-an explanation of rum production, from sugarcane to the finished product

-the origins of sugarcane and rum production in Barbados in the early 1600s

-the development of distilleries in the Colonies, particularly Massachusetts, in the late 1600s

-rum consumption in the Colonies…