Temperance Reform
By: Muhammad Haseeb, Cristian Uribe, Santiago Berrocal, and Sofia Lucio
Embedded Files
NBC News Learn. “‘the Drunkard’s Progress.’” YouTube, 1 May 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WG2WMjEf54.
THESIS
THESIS
Although the temperance movement faced significant opposition from alcohol manufacturers, immigrant communties and those who felt prohibiton was an infringment on personal liberties, progressives were successful in raising awareness about the social and moral consequences of alcoholism and creating legal reforms, such as the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act. Therefore, even though prohibition was short-lived, it was successful to a moderate extent in reforming social issues in America by gathering public interest and setting a foundation for government interventions in future problems.
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The temperance movement in the U.S. was established to address the social, economic, and moral issues of excessive alcohol consumption. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcohol consumption was very high, leading to high rates of domestic violence, work accidents, and poverty. Organizations such as the Woman's Christain Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League formed campaigns to link alcohol consumption to societal decay in attempt to influence public and political opinions. These efforts led to the ratification of the 18th Amendment which prohibited the manufacturing and selling of alcohol, although it was difficult to enforce and was reapealed in 1933.
The Temperance Movement used propaganda in the form of songs, stories, fliers, cartoons, periodicals, and more.
“Songs, Stories and Dramas.” Westerville Public Library, westervillelibrary.org/antisaloon-songs.
The Solutions
The Solutions
The Webb-Kenyon Act(1913)
The Webb-Kenyon Act(1913)
This act aimed to empower the prohibition laws passed by prohibiting the shipment of alcohol into states where it was illegal.
Sheppard Bone-Dry Act(1917)
Sheppard Bone-Dry Act(1917)
It was a strict prohibition act that banned selling, manufacturing, and owning alcohol in Washington D.C which was one of the harshest prohibition laws before National prohibition serving as a model for future laws
The Eighteenth Amendment(1919)
The Eighteenth Amendment(1919)
The amendment prohibited any manufacturing, selling, and transportation of alcohol, which aimed to reduce crime, social issues, and improve social morals.
The National Prohibition Act of 1919
The National Prohibition Act of 1919
With the passage of the 18th amendment, alcohol was banned but left unclassified, where the National Prohibition Act intended to set legal definitions and establish penalties for violations.
Key Figures
Key Figures
Carry Nation
Carry Nation
She became an activist for the temperance movement because she was a victim of her husband's violence towards her. One day, she went into a saloon in the Kansas Bar and smashed all the bottles of alcohol. She started being more active in the temperance movement because she got closer to God and had a vision from God.
Wayne Wheeler
Wayne Wheeler
He pushed for the 18th Amendment and is credited for making this possible. He joined the Anti-Saloon League(ASL) to support the cause of stopping the purchase and consumption of alcohol. He took over the legal aspect of the organization. His involvement and persuasion in the government allowed for legislation against alcohol like the Webb-Kenyon Act.
Frances Willard
Frances Willard
Even though she did not make it to the progressive era, she left long-lasting efforts that eventually led to legislation being passed, like the 18th Amendment. For example, she created the Woman's Christians Temperance Union(WCTU). She started this because, due to her religion, she viewed drinking as a sin.
Connection to The Antebellum Reformers
Connection to The Antebellum Reformers
The Temperance Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries gained momentum during the antebellum period the deep rooting of both these reforms intertwined with other social and religious reform efforts at the time. Following the 2nd great awakening, many reformers in the era viewed excessive alcohol consumption as a threat to both the stability of a family and the republic linking it to issues such as increased crime, poverty, and the moral decay of an individual. This strong perspective on the negative effects of alcohol and the over-consumption of it led to the creation of "temperance societies" where the distribution of broadsides such as the 1830 publication "A Mirror for the Intemperate" which advocated the moderation or complete outlawing of alcohol. These efforts were part of a broader antebellum reform that aimed to perfect society and redeem the souls of individuals.
-Sources-
-Sources-
Pbs. “Roots of Prohibition.” Prohibition | Ken Burns | PBS, 16 May 2024, www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots-of-prohibition.
https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/volstead-act
https://www.history.com/news/carry-nation-temperance-prohibition-alcohol
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wayne-b-wheeler-the-man-who-turned-off-the-taps-14783512/
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-ushistory1/chapter/temperance
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