In The Beginning
The New World Discovered (1400-1700)
Tobacco Growth Industry (1700-1900)
War & Cigarettes: A Deadly Combo (1900-1960)
Health Hazards Revealed! (1960-1980
The Recent Past (1980-present)
In The Beginning
Tobacco
is a plant that grows natively in North and South America. It is in the
same family as the potato, pepper and the poisonous nightshade, a very
deadly plant.The seed of a tobacco plant is very small. A 1 ounce sample contains about 300,000 seeds!
It is believed that Tobacco began growing in the Americas about 6,000 B.C.!
As early as 1 B.C., American Indians began using tobacco in many different ways, such as in religious and medicinal practices.
Tobacco
was believed to be a cure-all, and was used to dress wounds, as well as
a pain killer. Chewing tobacco was believed to relieve the pain of a
toothache!
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The New World Discovered
On
October 15, 1492, Christopher Columbus was offered dried tobacco leaves
as a gift from the American Indians that he encountered.Soon after, sailors brought tobacco back to Europe, and the plant was being grown all over Europe.
The
major reason for tobacco's growing popularity in Europe was its
supposed healing properties. Europeans believed that tobacco could cure
almost anything, from bad breath to cancer!
In
1571, A Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes wrote a book about the
history of medicinal plants of the new world. In this he claimed that
tobacco could cure 36 health problems.
In
1588, A Virginian named Thomas Harriet promoted smoking tobacco as a
viable way to get one's daily dose of tobacco. Unfortunately, he died of
nose cancer (because it was popular then to breathe the smoke out
through the nose).
During the 1600's, tobacco was so popular that it was frequently used as money! Tobacco was literally "as good as gold!"
This
was also a time when some of the dangerous effects of smoking tobacco
were being realized by some individuals. In 1610 Sir Francis Bacon noted
that trying to quit the bad habit was really hard!
In
1632, 12 years after the Mayflower arrived on Plymouth Rock, it was
illegal to smoke publicly in Massachusetts! This had more to do with the
moral beliefs of the day, than health concerns about smoking tobacco.
In
1760, Pierre Lorillard establishes a company in New York City to
process tobacco, cigars, and snuff. Today, P. Lorillard is the oldest
tobacco company in the U.S.
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Tobacco: A Growth Industry
In
1776, during the American Revolutionary War, tobacco helped finance the
revolution by serving as collateral for loans the Americans borrowed
from France!Over the years, more and more
scientists begin to understand the chemicals in tobacco, as well as the
dangerous health effects smoking produces.
In 1826, the pure form of nicotine is finally discovered. Soon after, scientists conclude that nicotine is a dangerous poison.
In 1836, New Englander Samuel Green stated that tobacco is an insecticide, a poison, and can kill a man.
In
1847, the famous Phillip Morris is established, selling hand rolled
Turkish cigarettes. Soon after in 1849, J.E. Liggett and Brother is
established in St. Louis, Mo. (The company that has settled out of the
big lawsuits recently).
Cigarettes became popular around this time when soldiers brought it back to England from the Russian and Turkish soldiers.
Cigarettes
in the U.S. were mainly made from scraps left over after the production
of other tobacco products, especially chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco
became quite popular at this time with the "cowboys" of the American
west.
In 1875, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company (better known for its Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil) was
established to produce chewing tobacco.
It
wasn't until the 1900's that the cigarette became the major tobacco
product made and sold. Still, in 1901 3.5 billion cigarettes were sold,
while 6 billion cigars were sold.
In 1902,
the British Phillip Morris sets up a New York headquarters to market its
cigarettes, including a now famous Marlboro brand.
Along
with the popularity of cigarettes, however, was a small but growing
anti-tobacco campaign, with some states proposing a total ban on
tobacco.
The demand for cigarettes grew however, and in 1913 R.J. Reynolds began to market a cigarette brand called Camel.
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War & Cigarettes: A Deadly Combo
The use of cigarette exploded during World War I (1914-1918), where cigarettes were called the "soldier's smoke".By
1923, Camel controls 45% of the U.S. market! In 1924, Phillip Morris
begins to market Marlboro as a woman's cigarette that is a "Mild as
May"!
To battle this, American Tobacco
Company, maker of the Lucky Strike brand, begins to market its cigarette
to women and gains 38% of the market. Smoking rates among female
teenagers soon triple during the years between 1925-1935!
In
1939, American Tobacco Company introduces a new brand, Pall Mall, which
allows American to become the largest tobacco company in the U.S.!
During
World War II (1939-1945), cigarette sales are at an all time high.
Cigarettes were included in a soldier's C-Rations (like food!). Tobacco
companies sent millions of cigarettes to the soldiers for free, and when
these soldiers came home, the companies had a steady stream of loyal
customers.
During the 1950's, more and more
evidence was surfacing that smoking was linked to lung cancer. Although
the tobacco industry denied such health hazards, they promoted new
products which were "safer", such as those with lower tar and filtered
cigarettes.
In 1952 P. Lorillard markets
its Kent brand with the "micronite" filter, which contained asbestos!
This was fortunately discontinued in 1956.
In 1953, Dr. Ernst L. Wynders finds that putting cigarette tar on the backs of mice causes tumors!
In
1954, RJ Reynolds introduces the filtered Winston brand. In 1956
Reynolds introduces the Salem brand, which is the first filter-tipped
menthol cigarette.
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Health Hazards Revealed!
In
1964, the Surgeon General's report on "Smoking and Health" came out.
This report assisted in allowing the government to regulate the
advertisement and sales of cigarettes. The 1960's in general was a time
when much of the health hazards of smoking were reported.In 1965, television cigarette ads are taken off the air in Great Britain.
In 1966, those health warnings on cigarette packs begin popping up.
In 1968, Bravo, a non-tobacco cigarette brand was marketed. Made primarily of lettuce, it failed miserably!
Because
of the negative press about tobacco, the major tobacco companies begin
to diversify their products. Phillip Morris begins to buy into the
Miller Brewing Company, makers of Miller Beer, Miller Lite, and Red Dog
Beer. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company drops the "Tobacco Company" in its
name, and becomes RJ Reynolds Industries. It also begins to buy into
other products, such as aluminum. American Tobacco Company also drops
"Tobacco" from its name, becoming American Brands, Inc.
In
1971, television ads for cigarettes are finally taken off the air in
the U.S. Cigarettes, however, are still the most heavily advertised
product second to automobiles!
In 1977, the first national Great American Smokeout takes place.
In
1979, the Surgeon General reports on the Health Consequences of Smoking
for Women. This is in light to the increasing number of women who are
taking up the bad habit. Some attribute it to the slick ad campaign of
the Virginia Slims brand, "You've Come a Long Way Baby!"
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The Recent Past
During
the 1980's there were many lawsuits filed against the tobacco industry
because of the harmful effects of its products. Smoking becomes
politically incorrect, with more public places forbidding smoking.In
1982, the Surgeon General reports that second hand smoke may cause lung
cancer. Smoking in public areas are soon restricted, especially at the
workplace.
In 1985, lung cancer became the #1 killer of women, beating out breast cancer!
Phillip
Morris continues to diversify into other products, buying into General
Foods Corporation and Kraft Inc in 1985. R Reynolds, also diversifies,
buying Nabisco (of Oreo fame) and becoming RJR/Nabisco.
In
1987, Congress bands smoking on all domestic flights lasting less than 2
hours. In 1990, Smoking is banned on all domestic flights, except to
Alaska and Hawaii.
In 1990, Ben & Jerry's (of ice cream fame) boycotts RJR/Nabisco, and drops Oreos from its ice cream products.
During
the 80's and 90's, the tobacco industry starts marketing heavily in
areas outside the U.S., especially developing countries in Asia.
Marlboro is considered the word's No. 1 most valuable brand of any
product with a value over $30 billion! Over this period, there is a
battle between Coca Cola and Marlboro as the No. 1 brand in the world!
In
recent, years, there is growing evidence that the tobacco industry has
known all along that cigarettes are harmful, but continued to market and
sell them. There is also evidence that they knew that nicotine was
addictive and exploited this hidden knowledge to get millions of people
hooked on this dangerous habit!
The Truth Is Out There!
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