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
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
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