The Temperance Movement
Argument
Supporters of Temperance reform believed that alcohol was the one thing that was most responsible for crime, disorder, and poverty. Many also believed that alcohol was the leading contributor to abusive husbands, based off of women who had been physically abused (Brinkley, 296). It was believed that drunkenness was a major factor in crime from the immigrants like the Scotch-Irish who were known to be heavy drinkers (Anbinder, 43). At first the movement advocated alcohol reform so that people would drink responsibly, but as the movement gained ground it began to move away from voluntary abstinence, to support for outlawing alcohol (Teach US History). This transition began after Maine passed a law prohibiting the sales of Alcohol in 1851(Anbinder, 43).
Overview
The Temperance movement was inspired by Evangelical Protestantism, which had come about in the Second Great Awakening starting in the 1820s. Advocated of the temperance reform believed that the consumption of alcohol was in no way good for people. Protestants believed that alcohol got men drunk and then lead to abusive husbands, who not only physically abused their wives but also squandered family money on alcohol. By the 1840s temperance reform had spread across the country, and more than a million people had pledged to not drink alcohol (Brinkley, 296). The earliest temperance movements were those found in Saratoga, New York in 1808 and in Massachusetts in 1813(Britannica).
Leaders
Carry A. Nation was one of the most well known leaders of the temperance reform movement. Nation joined the Temperance Movement when the US Supreme court ruled that alcohol couldn't be imported into Kansas from other states. This significantly weakened the prohibition laws that were established in Kansas. Nation was known for entering saloons and proceeding to smash the bars with hatchets, and then sing, and condemn the people in the bars with Biblical teachings. Nation was assaulted and jailed many times but was always bailed out by her supporters. Nation publishes a few newsletters like The Hatchet and The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation, which was her autobiography. Her, "hatchetation" period brought her national attention although it was short lived. Nation also advocated for other reforms such as Tobacco, foreign foods, and corsets (Britannica).
Movement Successes and Failures
Temperance reform was effective and reached its high in 1830, and it the consumption of alcohol declined through the 1840s. By the 1850s New England, Ohio, Northwestern territories, New York, and Pennsylvania had passed laws, which had outlawed the consumption of alcohol. The movement also saw success in some legal cases (Teach US History). By 1840 the Temperance Movement had gained enough power that it had more than one million followers who had signed a document saying they would no longer drink (Brinkley, 296).
The Temperance Reform movement did create more tension between American and immigrants. When advocates of Temperance Reform tried to pass national laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, they were condemned and vetoed by the Democrats in the Legislative Branch. Reformers blamed much of this on the immigrants, who were portrayed as rambunctious drunkards that had no regard for the Sabbath. The Scotch-Irish were known for being heavy drinkers, and this only heightened the tensions between the US and immigrants, and protestants and Catholics (Anbinder, 43-44).
Opinion
I think that the Temperance Movement was more of a success than a failure. It quickly gained strength and supporters all over the nation who wanted better lives for the majority of Americans. Although it may have failed to pass as a national law, it brought about important issues regarding alcohol's place in America. This movement was a lasting one as evident in its resurfacing during the progressive movement in the 1870s. It was a movement that began to value women rights and challenge the poor treatment of husbands towards their wives (Brinkley, 296).
COPPERS
The Temperance movement embodied ideas of equality especially for women. The Second Great Awakening praised ideas such as value of every human being, and that people need to take responsibility for their immoralities (Brinkley, 296). Part of the Temperance reform movement’s purpose was to protect women from abusive husbands. Women through these rights are gaining some equality. Through this movement women are not just treated as the male's property, but are treated in a way that keeps intact their rights as a US citizen. This is also Responsibility, husbands need to be responsible with their wives, by caring for and loving them, but also need to be responsible with themselves making sure that they are not getting drunk.
Works Cited
Anbinder, Tyler. Nativism and Slavery. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Print.
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Carry Nation." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 5 June 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Carry-Nation>.
- - -. "Temperance Movement." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 30 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/temperance-movement>.
"Temperance Reform in the Early 19th Century." Teach US History. N.p., 28 Nov. 2003. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. <http://www.teachushistory.org/Temperance/forteachers.htm>.
WIll you Back me?-http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots-of-prohibition/Carry Nation-http://www.britannica.com/topic/temperance-movement
Principles of Prohibition-http://www.britannica.com/topic/temperance-movement
man hitting wife-http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots-of-prohibition/The Drunkard's Progress-http://law.jrank.org/pages/10714/Temperance-Movement.html