Sugar: It's Tremendous Effect on a Nation.
From the earliest of times humans have used and traded in sugar. The sugar cane was first domesticated in New Guinna, taking place around 8000B.C. This early form of sugar was not the refined sugar that we know today, this was introduced into Europe in the 8th century, and was taken into England by the crusaders. As it was taxed from 1685 until 1874, its use did not become widespread. For instance, individual yearly consumption in Britain in 1800 was estimated as 18lbs per person. Thirty years later, sugar consumption rose two hundred and thirty three percent. No other food in world history has achieved such a large growth and consumption rate among people.
Unfortunately, sugar raised many moral issues for the people involved in it's trade and cultivation (namely slavery) but somehow managed to become a staple food in many diets across England at an alarming rate. Britain was especially affected by the introduction of sugar into society and while it became the fastest growing commodity ever in England, there were factors that cut short the rapid rise of sugar. Slavery and the introduction of the sugar beet are two of the factors involved with the complex history of the British sugar cane industry which overcame both dilemmas. Sugar, the sweet and tasty additive to many foods we consume today affected Britain in more ways than giving little children cavities. Sugar is a crop that put serious strain on a nations social, economic, and political practices, and would prove to be one of the most important crops in human history.
In general Britain's connection with sugar cane was linked irrevocably with black slavery. However, slavery was not a practice started by white Europeans. It had existed throughout history and in most cultures. In the Americas the Spanish started importing African slaves in 1517. They had originally forced the local native people to work in the mines and fields as slaves, but these easily contracted European diseases and died.