Summary: The Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement: The Attempted Removal of a Deadly Sin
The Temperance Movement was an attempt to better society by ending the sale and consumption of alcohol. This movement began in the 1830’s to the 1840’s from the desire to reform society and abolishing it’s sins by the removal of slavery. Many people saw the negative effect that alcohol also had on society, and so they put forth an effort to convince others to refrain. The fight for prohibition originated from the church. The Protestant religion enforced abstinence from alcohol and others followed, thinking that preventing the sin would help to reform society (“Roots of Prohibition”). Key leaders in the movement guided people towards their cause, such as Billy J. Clark who saw …show more content…
the chaotic effect that drinking had on society. He observed how dependent society was as it revolved around alcohol (“Billy J. Clark”). He worked to lead others away from the tempting drink and in 1808, he helped to form the first ever temperance society, the Union Temperate Society of Moreau and Northumberland (“History of the World’s Temperance Centennial Congress”). Although many efforts were introduced in order to enforce prohibition, the dependency of Americans on alcohol and their lack of fervor in the cause made it impossible to reform the masses. We still care today because the attempt at Temperance in the past can be used in the present in order to see what actions work and which ones don’t when trying to limit the usage of alcohol (Berridge). There were several causes of the Temperance Movement in the early 19th century, but all causes seemed to revolve around the desire to reform society with the removal of its sins. Firstly, abolitionists worked to remove what they believed to be the biggest issue at the time, slavery. Through the desire to abolish this sin, they realized that the consumption of alcohol was as equally disastrous to society (“Roots of Prohibition”). The Protestant Church was the primary and initial voice for the movement, urging its followers to refrain from liquor or to drink in moderation, then farther along urged drinkers to resist any temptation to alcohol (Webb). During the Antebellum period there was such a large increase in religion, creating a higher influence of its decisions to the masses. As the church viewed drinking as a sin, anyone who consumed alcohol was viewed as unfaithful to God and his teachings (“Temperance Movement”). A large following against the drinking issue was created from the popularity of the Church in this period, easily spreading its ideas against the shameful liquid (“Roots of Prohibition”). Another major cause of the movement was the realization of the dependency that society had on alcohol. By the year 1830, most American citizens over the age of fifteen were drinking roughly seven gallons of pure alcohol per year, an amount nearly three times of that consumed by an average American presently. The alcohol abuse lead to chaos in the lives of many, such as families that depended on drunken men to provide for them, since at this time women lacked many of the legal rights to be able to support their family on their own (“Roots of Prohibition”). The consumption of alcohol led to many social and personal issues. Alcoholics became increasingly treacherous to society and to themselves
(“Temperance Movement”). Many cases of abuse, crime, and murder could be traced back to alcohol. Many people saw alcohol as “always poisonous, and consequently never was nor can be of the least possible benefit, but always the reverse” (Barnum). They saw that the drink had no benefits through consumption, the only results were chaos and destruction. Through this realization came the desire to push forward with the Temperance Movement. The followers of the Temperance Movement hoped to reform society with the removal of alcohol, they followed many tactics and strategies in order to do so.
One of the main tactics was the formation of Temperance groups and organizations. One of these groups was the American Temperance Society which was founded in 1826. This organization called for abstinence from pure alcohol, but still allowed their members to drink what they believed to be less harmful forms of the liquid, such as beer or wine (Hanson). Another group founded in 1840 took a more compassionate path to abstinence. The Washingtonian Temperance Society urged heavy drinkers to reflect on how abusing alcohol affected their lives, they also went around helping and reforming those who had become impoverished because of their drunken lifestyles (“The Washingtonian Temperance Society”). Along with organizations there were also key leaders, such as Billy J. Clark, to provide guidance to the masses in the direction of abstinence. Another key leader was Benjamin Rush, a significant medical professor of the early 19th century. Benjamin Rush spoke out against alcohol and the hazards that resulted from its consumption. In order to educate others about the dangers of alcohol, he composed a pamphlet with his knowledge of the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol consumption. His pamphlet, An Inquiry into the Effects of Ardent Spirits upon the Human Body and Mind, contained facts and arguments that Benjamin Rush hoped …show more content…
would persuade drinkers to refrain from their risky addiction (Katcher, 273). Other educators followed the same approach of using knowledgable information about the dangers of alcohol in order to show drinkers how alcohol could truly affect them (Ivy, 1). Another key leader, Lyman Beecher had once said, “Intemperance is the sin of our land, and if anything shall defeat the hopes of the world, which hang upon our experiment of civil liberty, it is that river of fire.” Beecher believed that intemperance was the most significant sin of the early 19th century, he spoke out against it and persuaded others by connecting the consumption of alcohol with the falling apart of hard earned ideals such as “civil liberty” (Jeffrey). The Temperance organizations and key leaders used strategies in different forms such as compassion, education, and persuasion in order to contribute more followers to the Temperance Movement. The Temperance Movement overall gained many followers, but it’s failures tend to outweigh its successes.
One of it’s first and largest successes was in 1851 in Maine where a prohibition law was passed. Although this law was not very well enforced and many did not follow it, it allowed for a model for other states to follow (“The Temperance Movement”). This initial law in the state of Maine was seen as a blessing, as one newspaper described a scene where, “The clamor, and rioting, and fierce turbulence of drunkenness are nowhere to be seen.” The article then goes on to reflect what happens as a result of Maine passing its Prohibition law, “Blessed will this beautiful town be among the cities of our broad land, if she holds fast the faith she has professed, and continue the example she has of late exhibited” (“Temperance--The Maine Law”). The reformers were correct in hoping that other states would do the same because soon after Maine passed their law, twelve other states followed their lead and passed Prohibition laws of their own (“Temperance Movement”). A significant victory was the fact that alcohol consumption did greatly decrease during and as a result of this movement (Moore). This in fact was a goal for the Temperance Movement, so in a way the Movement had a small success, the issue being that this effect quickly wore off due to the Movement’s failures. One of the first failures that lead to the Movement’s downfall was that it lacked unity. The followers of the
Movement were split between the minority which vouched for complete abstinence from alcohol, while the majority spoke out against only hard liquor (“Temperance Movement”). This split between the Movement’s followers made it more difficult to strengthen the motion if they were not able to agree on exactly what they were fighting for. Another major downfall for the Temperance Movement was the arrival of the Civil War in 1861. The Civil War required most of the nation’s resources and attention to be focused on the battle, taking most of the effort away from the Temperance Movement (Hanson). In the end, the Movement was a failure because alcohol consumption continued as it had before. It is possible that the consumption rate was slightly lowered, but not sufficiently enough for the Movement to be considered a success. America 's’ dependency on alcohol at the time of the Antebellum period and the Movement’s lack of a strong following made it very difficult for a strict reform such as Prohibition to take place. Today this event is used as an example of an honorable effort to completely remove alcohol that could not be effective. In this way, the movement was unsuccessful because it is no longer followed and the law was abolished. Although Prohibition is not law, many people still believe in teaching and acting responsibly with alcohol. Many schools and facilities run classes and meetings to prevent abuse of alcohol or to help those suffering from addiction to drinking, such as the AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous. In this way the movement can be seen as having a lasting impression on America, a successful motion.
Works Cited
Primary:
Barnum, P. T. "Barnum on the Democratic Party and Temperance." New Haven Advocate [New Haven] 26 Mar. 1852: n. pag. Print.
Ivy, Andrew C., Ph.D. "Alcohol Education--For Moderation or Abstinence?"Listen: A Journal of
Better Living: 1. Brown University Library Center for Digital Scholarship.
"Temperance--The Maine Law." The New York Times [New York] 3 Oct. 1851. Print.
Secondary:
"Billy Joe Clark." Memorial Biographies (2000): n. pag. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Durkee, J. H. History of the World 's Temperance Centennial Congress and Memorial of Dr. Billy J. Clark: Held at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., June 14-23, 1908. Rochester: Spinning, Davis & Steele, 1908. Print.
"History Engine." The Washingtonian Temperance Society and the Influence on Women. Web. 18
May 2014.
Jeffrey, Julie R., Ph.D. "Reform." Lincoln/Net: Project Overview. Web. 18 May 2014.
Katcher, B. S. "Benjamin Rush 's Educational Campaign against Hard Drinking." American
Journal of Public Health 83.2 (1993): 273. PMC. Web. 18 May 2014.
Moore, Mark H. "Actually, Prohibition Was a Success." The New York Times. 16 Oct. 1989.
Print.
"Roots of Prohibition." PBS. PBS. Web. 18 May 2014.
"Temperance Movement." - Alcohol, Prohibition, Consumption, and Liquor. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
"Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. State
University of New York Sociology Department. Web. 18 May 2014.
"The American Temperance Society." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. State University of New
York Sociology Department. Web. 18 May 2014.
"The Temperance Movement." United States History. Web. 18 May 2014.
Webb, Holland. "Temperance Movements and Prohibition." International Social Science Review. 1999 ed. Vol. 74. 61-64. Print.
The Temperance Movement was an attempt to better society by ending the sale and consumption of alcohol. This movement began in the 1830’s to the 1840’s from the desire to reform society and abolishing it’s sins by the removal of slavery. Many people saw the negative effect that alcohol also had on society, and so they put forth an effort to convince others to refrain. The fight for prohibition originated from the church. The Protestant religion enforced abstinence from alcohol and others followed, thinking that preventing the sin would help to reform society (“Roots of Prohibition”). Key leaders in the movement guided people towards their cause, such as Billy J. Clark who saw …show more content…
the chaotic effect that drinking had on society. He observed how dependent society was as it revolved around alcohol (“Billy J. Clark”). He worked to lead others away from the tempting drink and in 1808, he helped to form the first ever temperance society, the Union Temperate Society of Moreau and Northumberland (“History of the World’s Temperance Centennial Congress”). Although many efforts were introduced in order to enforce prohibition, the dependency of Americans on alcohol and their lack of fervor in the cause made it impossible to reform the masses. We still care today because the attempt at Temperance in the past can be used in the present in order to see what actions work and which ones don’t when trying to limit the usage of alcohol (Berridge). There were several causes of the Temperance Movement in the early 19th century, but all causes seemed to revolve around the desire to reform society with the removal of its sins. Firstly, abolitionists worked to remove what they believed to be the biggest issue at the time, slavery. Through the desire to abolish this sin, they realized that the consumption of alcohol was as equally disastrous to society (“Roots of Prohibition”). The Protestant Church was the primary and initial voice for the movement, urging its followers to refrain from liquor or to drink in moderation, then farther along urged drinkers to resist any temptation to alcohol (Webb). During the Antebellum period there was such a large increase in religion, creating a higher influence of its decisions to the masses. As the church viewed drinking as a sin, anyone who consumed alcohol was viewed as unfaithful to God and his teachings (“Temperance Movement”). A large following against the drinking issue was created from the popularity of the Church in this period, easily spreading its ideas against the shameful liquid (“Roots of Prohibition”). Another major cause of the movement was the realization of the dependency that society had on alcohol. By the year 1830, most American citizens over the age of fifteen were drinking roughly seven gallons of pure alcohol per year, an amount nearly three times of that consumed by an average American presently. The alcohol abuse lead to chaos in the lives of many, such as families that depended on drunken men to provide for them, since at this time women lacked many of the legal rights to be able to support their family on their own (“Roots of Prohibition”). The consumption of alcohol led to many social and personal issues. Alcoholics became increasingly treacherous to society and to themselves
(“Temperance Movement”). Many cases of abuse, crime, and murder could be traced back to alcohol. Many people saw alcohol as “always poisonous, and consequently never was nor can be of the least possible benefit, but always the reverse” (Barnum). They saw that the drink had no benefits through consumption, the only results were chaos and destruction. Through this realization came the desire to push forward with the Temperance Movement. The followers of the Temperance Movement hoped to reform society with the removal of alcohol, they followed many tactics and strategies in order to do so.
One of the main tactics was the formation of Temperance groups and organizations. One of these groups was the American Temperance Society which was founded in 1826. This organization called for abstinence from pure alcohol, but still allowed their members to drink what they believed to be less harmful forms of the liquid, such as beer or wine (Hanson). Another group founded in 1840 took a more compassionate path to abstinence. The Washingtonian Temperance Society urged heavy drinkers to reflect on how abusing alcohol affected their lives, they also went around helping and reforming those who had become impoverished because of their drunken lifestyles (“The Washingtonian Temperance Society”). Along with organizations there were also key leaders, such as Billy J. Clark, to provide guidance to the masses in the direction of abstinence. Another key leader was Benjamin Rush, a significant medical professor of the early 19th century. Benjamin Rush spoke out against alcohol and the hazards that resulted from its consumption. In order to educate others about the dangers of alcohol, he composed a pamphlet with his knowledge of the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol consumption. His pamphlet, An Inquiry into the Effects of Ardent Spirits upon the Human Body and Mind, contained facts and arguments that Benjamin Rush hoped …show more content…
would persuade drinkers to refrain from their risky addiction (Katcher, 273). Other educators followed the same approach of using knowledgable information about the dangers of alcohol in order to show drinkers how alcohol could truly affect them (Ivy, 1). Another key leader, Lyman Beecher had once said, “Intemperance is the sin of our land, and if anything shall defeat the hopes of the world, which hang upon our experiment of civil liberty, it is that river of fire.” Beecher believed that intemperance was the most significant sin of the early 19th century, he spoke out against it and persuaded others by connecting the consumption of alcohol with the falling apart of hard earned ideals such as “civil liberty” (Jeffrey). The Temperance organizations and key leaders used strategies in different forms such as compassion, education, and persuasion in order to contribute more followers to the Temperance Movement. The Temperance Movement overall gained many followers, but it’s failures tend to outweigh its successes.
One of it’s first and largest successes was in 1851 in Maine where a prohibition law was passed. Although this law was not very well enforced and many did not follow it, it allowed for a model for other states to follow (“The Temperance Movement”). This initial law in the state of Maine was seen as a blessing, as one newspaper described a scene where, “The clamor, and rioting, and fierce turbulence of drunkenness are nowhere to be seen.” The article then goes on to reflect what happens as a result of Maine passing its Prohibition law, “Blessed will this beautiful town be among the cities of our broad land, if she holds fast the faith she has professed, and continue the example she has of late exhibited” (“Temperance--The Maine Law”). The reformers were correct in hoping that other states would do the same because soon after Maine passed their law, twelve other states followed their lead and passed Prohibition laws of their own (“Temperance Movement”). A significant victory was the fact that alcohol consumption did greatly decrease during and as a result of this movement (Moore). This in fact was a goal for the Temperance Movement, so in a way the Movement had a small success, the issue being that this effect quickly wore off due to the Movement’s failures. One of the first failures that lead to the Movement’s downfall was that it lacked unity. The followers of the
Movement were split between the minority which vouched for complete abstinence from alcohol, while the majority spoke out against only hard liquor (“Temperance Movement”). This split between the Movement’s followers made it more difficult to strengthen the motion if they were not able to agree on exactly what they were fighting for. Another major downfall for the Temperance Movement was the arrival of the Civil War in 1861. The Civil War required most of the nation’s resources and attention to be focused on the battle, taking most of the effort away from the Temperance Movement (Hanson). In the end, the Movement was a failure because alcohol consumption continued as it had before. It is possible that the consumption rate was slightly lowered, but not sufficiently enough for the Movement to be considered a success. America 's’ dependency on alcohol at the time of the Antebellum period and the Movement’s lack of a strong following made it very difficult for a strict reform such as Prohibition to take place. Today this event is used as an example of an honorable effort to completely remove alcohol that could not be effective. In this way, the movement was unsuccessful because it is no longer followed and the law was abolished. Although Prohibition is not law, many people still believe in teaching and acting responsibly with alcohol. Many schools and facilities run classes and meetings to prevent abuse of alcohol or to help those suffering from addiction to drinking, such as the AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous. In this way the movement can be seen as having a lasting impression on America, a successful motion.
Works Cited
Primary:
Barnum, P. T. "Barnum on the Democratic Party and Temperance." New Haven Advocate [New Haven] 26 Mar. 1852: n. pag. Print.
Ivy, Andrew C., Ph.D. "Alcohol Education--For Moderation or Abstinence?"Listen: A Journal of
Better Living: 1. Brown University Library Center for Digital Scholarship.
"Temperance--The Maine Law." The New York Times [New York] 3 Oct. 1851. Print.
Secondary:
"Billy Joe Clark." Memorial Biographies (2000): n. pag. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Durkee, J. H. History of the World 's Temperance Centennial Congress and Memorial of Dr. Billy J. Clark: Held at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., June 14-23, 1908. Rochester: Spinning, Davis & Steele, 1908. Print.
"History Engine." The Washingtonian Temperance Society and the Influence on Women. Web. 18
May 2014.
Jeffrey, Julie R., Ph.D. "Reform." Lincoln/Net: Project Overview. Web. 18 May 2014.
Katcher, B. S. "Benjamin Rush 's Educational Campaign against Hard Drinking." American
Journal of Public Health 83.2 (1993): 273. PMC. Web. 18 May 2014.
Moore, Mark H. "Actually, Prohibition Was a Success." The New York Times. 16 Oct. 1989.
Print.
"Roots of Prohibition." PBS. PBS. Web. 18 May 2014.
"Temperance Movement." - Alcohol, Prohibition, Consumption, and Liquor. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
"Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. State
University of New York Sociology Department. Web. 18 May 2014.
"The American Temperance Society." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. State University of New
York Sociology Department. Web. 18 May 2014.
"The Temperance Movement." United States History. Web. 18 May 2014.
Webb, Holland. "Temperance Movements and Prohibition." International Social Science Review. 1999 ed. Vol. 74. 61-64. Print.