Lena Savoie
The temperance movement, dedicated to promoting moderation and, more often, complete abstinence from alcohol, began at a national level in the United States in the 1820s. The movement, which discouraged the use of alcoholic beverages, was active and influential in the United States from at least the 1830s. The earliest temperance reformers were concerned with the overindulgence of American drinkers and encouraged moderation, with some former alcoholics themselves advocating for sobriety. The movement combined a concern for general social ills with religious sentiment and practical health considerations, appealing to many middle-class reformers, particularly women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start date | Early 1800s |
| Focus | Initially, advice against hard spirits and moral reform; later, legislative reform and abstinence |
| Target audience | Middle-class Christians, including women |
| Religious influence | Evangelical Protestant religious revival, the Second Great Awakening |
| Notable figures | William Miller, Frances Willard, Carrie Nation |
| Related organisations | The Washingtonian Movement, American Temperance Union, WCTU, Anti-Saloon League |
| Impact | Reduced average alcohol consumption, influenced education and legislation |
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What You'll Learn
Temperance movement origins
The temperance movement, a social movement dedicated to promoting moderation and total abstinence from alcohol consumption, has its origins in the early 1800s in the United States. The movement combined religious sentiment, practical health considerations, and a concern for addressing social issues caused by alcohol abuse, such as poverty and domestic violence.
The earliest temperance organisations were founded in Saratoga, New York, in 1808, and in Massachusetts in 1813, with the formation of the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance (MSSI) in the latter state. The MSSI, which only accepted men of high social standing as members, advocated for moderation in alcohol consumption. However, its impact was limited, and it disbanded in 1820.
In the following decades, other small temperance societies emerged, but their influence was largely confined to their immediate regions. Despite their limited reach, these early organisations laid the groundwork for more enduring temperance societies, such as the American Temperance Society, which adopted their strategies of public abstinence pledges, meetings, and pamphlet distribution.
The temperance movement gained momentum in the 1820s, fueled by evangelical reformers and support from the middle classes. During this time, the movement focused on advising against hard spirits rather than advocating for complete abstinence, and it emphasised moral reform over legal measures against alcohol. The publication of the book "The Bottle" in London in 1847 further influenced the movement with its depiction of a man's descent into unemployment and violence against his family due to alcoholism.
By the 1830s, the average American over the age of 15 consumed at least seven gallons of alcohol per year, and the movement had spread rapidly under the influence of churches. By 1833, there were 6,000 local temperance societies in several US states. The Washingtonian Movement, founded in 1840 in Baltimore, Maryland, by six alcoholics, was one of the earliest precursors to Alcoholics Anonymous, promoting sobriety and teetotalism.
The term "teetotaler" emerged during this period, referring to those who pledged complete abstinence from alcohol, marked by the writing of capital "T"s next to their names. Teetotalism, which promoted complete abstinence from all alcoholic beverages, became the dominant perspective among temperance advocates for the next century. The first international temperance organisation, the Order of Good Templars, was formed in 1851 in Utica, New York and spread globally, including to Great Britain, Scandinavia, India, and parts of Africa and South America.
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Temperance and religion
The Temperance Movement, which began in the early 1800s, was a social movement that promoted moderation or total abstinence from alcohol. The movement was particularly prominent in English-speaking, Scandinavian, and majority Protestant countries. It was driven by religious sentiment, with religious groups being the first to oppose drinking. The Bible does not condemn the use of wine, but it does state that being under the influence of alcohol is a sin, and religious groups believed that drunkenness was a failure to use God's gifts properly.
The earliest temperance organisations appeared in Saratoga, New York, in 1808, and in Massachusetts in 1813. The movement spread rapidly under the influence of the churches, and by 1833 there were 6,000 local societies in several US states. The first international temperance organisation was the Order of Good Templars, formed in 1851 in Utica, New York. The movement also spread to Europe, with the earliest European organisations formed in Ireland. The Ulster Temperance Society was established in 1829, and the movement soon spread throughout Ireland and Great Britain. The Church of England Temperance Society was founded in 1862 and reconstituted in 1873.
The temperance movement was particularly appealing to middle-class reformers and women, who were active in the movement from its early days. By 1831, there were 24 women's organisations dedicated to temperance, and women's groups played a key role in the movement. The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1874, became the largest women's religious organisation of the 19th century under the leadership of Frances Willard. Willard promoted a "'Do Everything' policy", tackling issues such as women's rights, suffrage, and international social justice, in addition to temperance. The WCTU trained women in leadership, public speaking, and political thinking, and it lobbied for legally mandated temperance instruction in schools.
The temperance movement was also influenced by the scientific theories of the time. Temperance proponents believed that alcohol problems were not just a personal concern but caused later generations to "degenerate" as well. They promoted public hygiene and improving the population through personal lifestyle choices. The movement generated its own popular culture, with songs, puppet plays, minstrel acts, parades, and temperance theatre becoming an important part of the American cultural landscape.
As the movement progressed, advocates became more extremist in their tactics, with Carrie Nation being one of the most notable. She was arrested 30 times for her "hatchetations", using a hatchet to destroy property in bars, saloons, and pharmacies. Despite the efforts of temperance advocates, the movement had limited success in achieving its goals. While it influenced legislation and led to national prohibitions in several countries, alcohol consumption remained widespread, and the issues of drinking were deeply rooted in society.
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Temperance and women
The Temperance Movement, which began in the 1820s, was rooted in Protestant churches and powered by women volunteers. More women were involved in this movement than in any other cause in US history up to that point. Women's involvement seemed natural since the movement targeted men's alcohol abuse and how it harmed women and children. Initially, the movement sought to moderate drinking, then to promote resisting the temptation to drink. Later, the goal became the outright prohibition of alcohol sales.
Women were drawn to the movement in large numbers. Temperance reformers blamed alcohol for corrupting American culture and leading to violence, immorality, and death. The earliest temperance reformers were concerned with the overindulgence of American drinkers and encouraged moderation. By 1830, the average American older than 15 consumed at least seven gallons of alcohol a year. Alcohol abuse was rampant, and temperance advocates argued that it led to poverty and domestic violence. The movement was appealing to women because it sought to end a phenomenon that directly affected their quality of life. Temperance was painted as a religious and moral duty that paired well with other feminine responsibilities. If total abstinence was achieved, the family, its home, its health, and even its salvation would be secure. Women crusaders, particularly middle-class Protestants, pointed toward the Christian virtues of prudence, temperance, and chastity, and encouraged people to practice these virtues by abstaining from alcohol.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in 1873 and became a national social reform and lobbying organization the following year. Its second president, Frances Willard, helped grow the WCTU into the largest women's religious organization in the 19th century. Willard was known for her self-proclaimed "Do Everything" policy. She was concerned with temperance, as well as women's rights, suffrage, and international social justice. She saw alcoholics as mentally weak and unstable and believed that temperance could help improve the quality of life of individual alcoholics, as well as their families and communities. The WCTU adopted Willard's “Do Everything” philosophy, which meant that the organization campaigned for local, state, and national prohibition, woman suffrage, protective purity legislation, scientific temperance instruction in schools, better working conditions for labor, anti-polygamy laws, Americanization, and a variety of other reforms.
In the 1890s, the Anti-Saloon League rose to prominence as an influential prohibition lobby, using methods from business and government rather than the church. Carrie Nation was one of the most extreme temperance movement workers and was arrested 30 times for her "hatchetations" - using a hatchet to destroy property at bars, saloons, and even pharmacies, believing that even alcohol used for medicinal purposes was unjustified.
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Temperance and politics
The Temperance Movement, a social movement promoting moderation and total abstinence from alcohol, has had a significant political impact in various countries, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement's efforts resulted in legislative reforms and influenced voting patterns, contributing to the enactment of prohibition laws in several nations.
Origins and Early Years
The earliest temperance organizations emerged in Saratoga, New York, in 1808 and Massachusetts in 1813, with a focus on discouraging the consumption of hard spirits rather than complete abstinence. The movement quickly spread, and by 1833, there were 6,000 local societies across several US states. The first international temperance organization, the Order of Good Templars, was formed in 1851 in Utica, New York, and gradually expanded its reach globally.
Political Strategies and Activism
The temperance movement employed a combination of moral and political strategies to advance its cause. Activists organized sobriety lectures, established reform clubs, and lobbied local legislators for legal reforms. They advocated for the passage of laws regulating or prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol. One notable tactic was the use of ""pressure politics"" by the Anti-Saloon League, which utilized media, publications, and behind-the-scenes influence to persuade politicians that the public demanded action against alcohol.
Legislative Reforms and Prohibition
The political efforts of the temperance movement led to significant legislative changes. In 1901, federal law in the United States mandated "scientific temperance" instruction in public schools, spreading anti-drinking propaganda. The movement's influence culminated in the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1917, ratified in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages nationwide. Similar prohibition laws were enacted in Canada, Norway, Finland, and other countries during this period.
Women's Leadership and Suffrage
Women played a pivotal role in the temperance movement, with organizations like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) becoming a dominant force. The WCTU, led by Frances Willard, focused on temperance, women's rights, suffrage, and international social justice. The movement provided women with leadership opportunities and skills in public speaking and political thinking. However, as the movement progressed, women became less central, and by the early 1900s, with suffrage still not achieved, their influence within the movement diminished.
Backlash and Repeal
While the temperance movement gained widespread support, it also faced significant opposition, particularly in urban areas with significant European immigrant communities. The movement's success in enacting prohibition laws was short-lived, as bootlegging and organized crime stepped in to profit from the illegal alcohol market. In 1933, the Twenty-First Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, ending national prohibition in the United States and marking a shift in public sentiment.
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Temperance and prohibition
The temperance movement, which began in the early 1800s, was a social movement that promoted moderation and, more often, complete abstinence from alcohol. The earliest temperance reformers were concerned with the overindulgence of drinkers and encouraged moderation. By 1830, the average American over 15 consumed at least seven gallons of alcohol a year, and alcohol abuse was rampant. Temperance advocates argued that alcohol abuse led to poverty and domestic violence. Some advocates were former alcoholics themselves. The movement spread rapidly under the influence of churches, and by 1833, there were 6,000 local societies in several US states.
The temperance movement was particularly appealing to middle-class reformers and women, who protested against alcohol abuse and how it caused men to commit domestic violence against women. By 1831, there were 24 women's organisations dedicated to temperance. In 1840, a group of artisans in Baltimore, Maryland, created their own temperance society, calling themselves the Washingtonians. They pledged complete abstinence and attempted to persuade others through their own experiences with alcohol rather than relying on preaching and religious lectures.
In the late 19th century, the temperance movement became more interested in legislative reform as pressure from the Anti-Saloon League increased. Prohibition agendas became popular among factory owners who wanted efficient workers during a period of increased industrialisation. The cause of the sober factory worker was related to that of women temperance leaders, who protested against the enslavement of factory workers and the temptation that saloons offered.
The temperance movement also led to the creation of propaganda, including scientific pamphlets, religious pamphlets, posters, and songs. Scientific pamphlets presented facts and logical arguments against drinking alcohol, while religious pamphlets drew upon Christian doctrine, often citing biblical reasons for temperance. Temperance posters offered a condensed version of these pamphlets, presenting striking arguments through images and sound bites. Many posters referred to scientific studies and statistical information, citing medical and scientific experts. Some posters described how children of alcoholic parents suffered developmentally and emotionally, citing statistics and studies as proof.
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Frequently asked questions
The Temperance Movement.
The Temperance Movement was dedicated to promoting moderation and, more often, complete abstinence from alcohol. The movement combined a concern for general social ills with religious sentiment and practical health considerations.
The Temperance Movement began at a national level in the United States in the 1820s, popularized by evangelical reformers and among the middle classes. However, the earliest temperance organizations seem to have been those founded in Saratoga, New York, in 1808 and in Massachusetts in 1813.
