Comparing Louisiana and Florida's Sugar Markets Postbellum
In postbellum America, the domestic sugar industry underwent a plethora of changes emerging globally as foreign markets began competing with domestic sugar producers. The development of the beet sugar industry in Europe turned the domestic American sugar production on its head. According to one study, cane sugar accounted for ninety-five percent of the world supply of sugar in 1840 but was dwarfed in 1889 by beet sugar, which accounted for two-thirds of the world’s sugar production. [1] Additionally, as beet sugar was gaining traction in Europe and Congress’ establishment of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prompted the Florida Everglades to become the prime location for their interests in sugar to be explored further. Although the changing global sugar market greatly effected all domestic sugar producers, Florida and Louisiana’s sugar production was effected greatly by their differing origins and preexisting market prac...