The United States is the world’s leading exporter and importer of tobacco.  In 1995, the United States exported 231 billion cigarettes valued at $4,850,000 to 111 countries.  Also in 1995, the United States imported 8.7 billion cigarettes valued at $71,000 from foreign countries.  In 1994, tobacco generated $44,700,000 towards the gross national product, and in 1993 it was estimated that 42,900 people were employed in tobacco manufacturing.

   Tobacco use and cultivation methods were adopted from the Native Americans when the United States were merely colonies.  The Native Americans believed that tobacco had spiritual values, but soon the white man also developed a fondness for the plant.  The French and Spanish began growing the plant, but soon after, Sir Walter Raleigh encouraged the cultivation of tobacco in the colonies and the colonists discovered that the soil and climate in the New World produced much better tobacco than that of the Spanish or French.  Thus, the American tobacco industry was born.
 
 

      BACK TO THE DIRECTORY