America. A nation founded by uptight Puritans, who viewed physical intimacy as a sin and would cast a sinner out of their midst. But people still did hook up even though intimacy was restricted in a sense.
The Founding Fathers were proponents of physical intimacy during the Revolutionary War, because what better way to unwind when constantly surrounded by men?
Benjamin Franklin Offered Indelicate Advice
Franklin had a suave demeanor. One of the reasons why he was selected to win France’s support during the Revolutionary War.
It was a trait he used to court women and he was always ready to talk about romantic relations.
In fact, one of his letters outlines advice on how to find a mistress. Franklin’s advice was to go for older women.
The age and wisdom makes older women discreet partners. Franklin is straight to the point saying, “The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts [continue] to the last as plump as ever.”
Dating Even Involved Partners Being Stuffed In A Burlap Sack
“Bundling” allowed betrothed couples to stay at the girl’s house under the supervision of her parents.
A sack that looked like a large sleeping bag with the middle sewn together would hold the young couple together to make sure there was no physical contact.
However, there were variations. An unmarried couple may be allowed to share a bed to stay warm, as long as a board separated the two.
They could even be watched closely by parents.
But these methods weren’t always successful since the mid- to late-1700s had one in three brides pregnant when she said “I do.”
Common Law Marriage Was An Easier Path Towards Acceptable Intercourse
In colonial America, only married couples were allowed to share intimacy.
However, it was easy for people to get married. They just had to clasp hands and declare themselves husband and wife.
This method was called “common law marriage,” or “handfasting,” a practice brought to the Colonies by English settlers.
But not all of these marriages lasted.
Since there were no legal documents or witnesses, it was too easy for a “spouse” to leave the relationship after the marriage was consummated.
There Were Same-Sex Relationships
Same-sex relationships have existed for the longest time, as far back as the ancients, and the colonial period was no exception.
According to historians, there have been such types of relationships documented through correspondence.
Intimate relations among men were forbidden, but records suggest same-sex couples existed during the war for American independence.
Sex Work Didn’t Really Exist Outside Of Cities
Cities of the past were renowned for their many sex workers, but that wasn’t the case in colonial America.
Religious beliefs discouraged this, and the demographics of the population just could not support large-scale operations.
Sex work did exist, but it wasn’t centralized or well-documented in the countryside.
Most employees worked in major settlements, such as New York and Philadelphia.
Thomas Jefferson Fathered Children With A Woman He Enslaved
Thomas Jefferson is widely celebrated for his liberal ideals, but he did have slaves during his time.
A Sally Hemings was referred to as his “concubine” in 19th-century documents, but scholars question if the relationship was even consensual.
Jefferson may have fathered Hemings’s six children, and that caused scandalous rumors when he was president.
His family insisted that the light-skinned children who looked like Jefferson were fathered by his nephews.
But after DNA tests, they found that Jefferson was most likely the father of those children.
There Were No Shops Catering To Self-Pleasure
Toys for self-pleasure are as old as intercourse, but as for America’s colonial era, there were no records of such to exist.
Many Colonists were Puritans, so those toys may not have been discussed or sold publicly.
Dirty Jokes And Songs Were Popular
Colonial Americans still joked about intercourse. John Adams himself wrote dirty jokes he would hear.
In a story, a man who “was a better Prophet than Elijah for he stretched himself on her but once to bring her to Life whereas Elijah did 3 times. He breathed into her the Breath of Life.”
Philadelphia Had Its Own Red Light District
Philadelphia was one of the largest cities at the time, so a big population meant lots of opportunities for intimacy.
The most infamous of the “rough” neighborhoods was Hell Town. It was a place of poverty, crime, and sex work.
Benjamin Franklin was said to have relations with a few women from the neighborhood.
People Began Marrying For Love
Arranged marriages were common back then, but in the 18th century, love became a factor for unions to take place.
Marriages were once arranged to consolidate family power, but the parents’ influence declined by the time of the Revolutionary War.
Rebellion was taking hold of the nation.
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