(above) The picture known as The Drunkard’s Children was issued during the temperance movement that "issued grave warnings about the long-term dangers of alcohol in a highly-visual form.” "The Temperance Movement." Oviatt Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. <http://library.csun.edu/SCA/Peek-in-the-Stacks/Temperance>.
HISTORICAL QUESTION: What influential factors furthered the Temperance Movement in the United States?
The beginning of the nineteenth century brought a new set of drinking regulations to the lives of Americans. This movement known as the Temperance Movement was described by author Ian Tyrell as “a crusade for self-improvement and the industrial work ethic” [1]. Ronni Lacroute explains how the Temperance Movement “originally crusaded for moderation, yet leaders moved to advocate for total abstinence” [2]. The movement began from the Evangelical Christian belief of “moral freedom”, yet it did not take long before the rest of the country joined this movement against the sale and consumption of alcohol [3]. By 1851 Maine became the first state to pass a law legalizing the sale of alcohol as a criminal act, known as the Maine Liquor Laws [4]. Just four years later by 1855 eleven states had passed laws against the sale of liquor [5]. Activist groups began to form advocating the enforcement of these laws, however not all Americans were sold on the idea of outlawing liquor due to these religious views. The Temperance Movement was not supported by all Americans and divided the country between groups that advocated and opposed the movement.
Drinking was not always viewed poorly and in fact many Americans did not support the outlaw of liquor sales. Previous to the Maine Liquor Laws, drinking was used socially. People were encouraged to smoke and drink because it was said to have been a social activity to partake in [6]. In some cases Americans even used alcohol to pay their taxes with, seeing as it was a legal form of tender [7]. The outlaw of alcohol infuriated some Americans, especially Southerners. The Carolina coast was resided by many wealthy plantation owners who drank liquor casually with fellow businessmen or at social gatherings. Southerners strongly opposed the Temperance Movement also because they saw temperance associated with abolition [8]. Also, these wealthy residents were not looked down upon for drinking excessively, as many lower class citizens were labeled as
“drunkards”, due to the amount of money they possessed [9]. Immigrants were some who did not fully support the Temperance Movement, especially in the North, because alcohol was again used socially in the immigrant subcultures and different immigrants took part in drinking different types of alcohol [10].
Although there were many who opposed the Temperance Movement, there was a great portion of the population who supported the outlaw of liquor sales in the United States. Many women highly supported the Temperance Movement and even women activist groups began to form. Women supported these laws with the motive of diminishing domestic abuse [11]. Clearly Evangelical Christian leaders, such as Nathan Bangs and Robert Murray M'Cheyne, supported these laws as well as they were the first to call for the rise of this moral reform [12]. Northerners who were experiencing urbanization and social changes with the increased population of immigrants were also advocates for this change in alcohol regulation [13]. According to Ronnie Lacroute another group in support of these temperance laws were church groups and even industrialists who “furthered temperance organizations to bring the passage of many liquor laws’. [14]
Some Americans found it difficult to adapt to these new changes, yet were forced to eventually subside by these new laws. Although Americans were split between supporting and opposing these new regulations, the changes effected everyone regardless. One new change that had a great effect was the use of propaganda to support or oppose the Temperance Movement. Propaganda such as dramas, songs, illustrations, newspaper articles and more evolved during this time period for both sides of this controversy [15]. The Temperance Movement began through the avocation of moral reform to “encourage self-control and cure such social ills as poverty, crime, and insanity.” [16] Whether or not Americans supported the new alcohol regulations presented in the early 1800s, the national recognition of the movement and newly emerged group activism proved to be the main influences of the Temperance Movement.
[1] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research |Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[2] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[3] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
4] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[5] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[6] Sheldon, Jonathon. "Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use." Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. N.p., 1993. Web. 01 May 2014.
[7] Sheldon, Jonathon. "Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use." Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. N.p., 1993. Web. 01 May 2014.
[8] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[9] Vargas, Mark A. "The Progressive Agent of Mischief: The Whiskey Ration and Temperance in the United States Army." The Historian 67. (2005): 199-216. Print
[10] Warren, Richard. "Temperance and Alcohol." Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 1.2 (2009): 97.
[11] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[12] Claybaugh, Amanda. “Temperance.” In American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Eds. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattlemejer. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2006, 1152-58.
[13] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[14] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[15] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[16] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr.2014.
Drinking was not always viewed poorly and in fact many Americans did not support the outlaw of liquor sales. Previous to the Maine Liquor Laws, drinking was used socially. People were encouraged to smoke and drink because it was said to have been a social activity to partake in [6]. In some cases Americans even used alcohol to pay their taxes with, seeing as it was a legal form of tender [7]. The outlaw of alcohol infuriated some Americans, especially Southerners. The Carolina coast was resided by many wealthy plantation owners who drank liquor casually with fellow businessmen or at social gatherings. Southerners strongly opposed the Temperance Movement also because they saw temperance associated with abolition [8]. Also, these wealthy residents were not looked down upon for drinking excessively, as many lower class citizens were labeled as
“drunkards”, due to the amount of money they possessed [9]. Immigrants were some who did not fully support the Temperance Movement, especially in the North, because alcohol was again used socially in the immigrant subcultures and different immigrants took part in drinking different types of alcohol [10].
Although there were many who opposed the Temperance Movement, there was a great portion of the population who supported the outlaw of liquor sales in the United States. Many women highly supported the Temperance Movement and even women activist groups began to form. Women supported these laws with the motive of diminishing domestic abuse [11]. Clearly Evangelical Christian leaders, such as Nathan Bangs and Robert Murray M'Cheyne, supported these laws as well as they were the first to call for the rise of this moral reform [12]. Northerners who were experiencing urbanization and social changes with the increased population of immigrants were also advocates for this change in alcohol regulation [13]. According to Ronnie Lacroute another group in support of these temperance laws were church groups and even industrialists who “furthered temperance organizations to bring the passage of many liquor laws’. [14]
Some Americans found it difficult to adapt to these new changes, yet were forced to eventually subside by these new laws. Although Americans were split between supporting and opposing these new regulations, the changes effected everyone regardless. One new change that had a great effect was the use of propaganda to support or oppose the Temperance Movement. Propaganda such as dramas, songs, illustrations, newspaper articles and more evolved during this time period for both sides of this controversy [15]. The Temperance Movement began through the avocation of moral reform to “encourage self-control and cure such social ills as poverty, crime, and insanity.” [16] Whether or not Americans supported the new alcohol regulations presented in the early 1800s, the national recognition of the movement and newly emerged group activism proved to be the main influences of the Temperance Movement.
[1] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research |Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[2] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[3] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
4] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[5] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[6] Sheldon, Jonathon. "Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use." Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. N.p., 1993. Web. 01 May 2014.
[7] Sheldon, Jonathon. "Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use." Chapter 1: Historical Aspects of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. N.p., 1993. Web. 01 May 2014.
[8] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[9] Vargas, Mark A. "The Progressive Agent of Mischief: The Whiskey Ration and Temperance in the United States Army." The Historian 67. (2005): 199-216. Print
[10] Warren, Richard. "Temperance and Alcohol." Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 1.2 (2009): 97.
[11] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[12] Claybaugh, Amanda. “Temperance.” In American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Eds. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattlemejer. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2006, 1152-58.
[13] Tyrell, Ian R. "History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes." History Engine. Tempering the Temperance Movement, Nov. 1982. Web. 01 May 2014.
[14] Lacroute, Ronni. "Temperance." Song of the Vine: A History of Wine. Cornell University Library, 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
[15] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
[16] Smith, William. "The Temperance Archive." The Temperance Archive. American Social History Productions, 2002. Web. 24 Apr.2014.