Asked by Cherie Mitchell on Jun 20, 2024

verifed

Verified

What was the significance of sugar, rice, coffee, and tobacco in the eighteenth century?

A) The ease of growing these crops meant that fewer slaves needed to be imported from Africa.
B) These products were the first mass consumer goods in international trade, and they were all produced by slaves.
C) They were imported to the New World in massive quantities due to the region's failure to produce such goods.
D) They were staples whose importance paled in comparison to fish, rum, and indigo in the world market.
E) They could only be grown in the West Indies, allowing the traders in that area to become massively wealthy.

Mass Consumer Goods

Products that are produced and distributed in large quantities to meet the wide-ranging needs of the general population.

Eighteenth Century

The period of time from January 1, 1701, to December 31, 1800, in the Gregorian calendar.

Sugar, Rice

Key agricultural products, where "sugar" refers to the sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates extracted from sugarcane or sugar beets and "rice" is a staple grain consumed globally.

  • Identify the economic significance of cash crops like sugar, rice, coffee, and tobacco in the 18th century and their connection to slave labor.
verifed

Verified Answer

RC
Reynan CuyomJun 20, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Sugar, rice, coffee, and tobacco were all major crops in the eighteenth century and were the first mass consumer goods in international trade. They were also all produced by slaves, highlighting the significance of the slave trade in the production of these crops.