(above) Form of propaganda using women in the 1840s. Olson-Raymer, Gayle. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. <http://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist110/unit3/political.html>.
The Temperance Movement was the first anti-alcohol movement that greatly impacted the United States. The use of alcohol during this time was seen as immoral to many people and this led to the formation of many group activisms. Of the many temperance advocates, women were among the largest group to be against the use of alcohol. Women were greatly against the use of alcohol since many of their husbands’ consumed it. The outcomes of drinking were threatening towards women as it lead to domestic violence and the future of their children at stake. Due to the fact that many saw consuming alcohol as immoral, many activists form organizations that would try to put an end to alcohol. Women organizations were the most powerful as they fought for the future of their children and that of the United States.
Since many of the activists were women, men believed women were supposed to stay at home and take care of their children and house. Men declared that it was a woman’s job to raise virtuous children [3]. Women fought for the future of their children since they didn’t want them to do what was immoral. They argued with men stating that “If women were responsible for raising virtuous children, women, they contended, should also play a role in helping those people who have become consumed by immoral acts redeem themselves [3].” Women didn’t want men to be of bad influence to their children and felt it was greatly important to ban the use of alcohol.
Temperance advocates held a woman’s temperance convention in 1853. Participants in this convention drafted a constitution and organized the Ohio Women’s Temperance Society [3]. This organization’s first president was Josephine Bateman, who was also the editor of Ohio Cultivator’s “Ladies Department [3].” In the 1870s, many women were inspired to protest and organize politically for the cause of the temperance in memory of the many wives and mothers whose lives had been ruined by the men consuming alcoholic beverages [1]. In 1873 Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton both started an organization known as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) along with women who felt a need to stop alcohol consumption [1]. In 1874 the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was founded.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Eliza Thompson, daughter of a former governor and wife of a highly respected judge, women began their first march from a church to saloons [4]. Ever since then, members of the WCTU marched to saloons and drug stores, to pray for the souls of barkeepers and patrons [6]. When women were denied entrance, they would kneel on pavements until sellers capitulated [4]. Women would also demand that owners of drug stores and saloons sign a pledge that would no longer allow them to sell alcohol [6]. Women felt the great need of entreating the owners to close these evil establishments because they ruined the lives of those in the United States [2]. These marches are also known as crusades and it was during these times (1873-1874) that the Women’s Temperance Crusade brought thousands of women to participate, leading to the first largest temperance movement, by and for women [p 461, 5].
[1] Women's Christian Temperance Union. Roots of Prohibition. PBS, 2011. Web.
[2] Sayre, Jim. Temperance Movement Had Roots in Shelby County, Ohio. Shelby County Historical Society. Shelby County Historical Society, Feb. 1997. Web. 2 May 2014.
[3] Gu, Paul. "Tempreance Movement." Ohio History Central. Ohio History Central, 2013. Web. 2 May 2014.
[4] "Crusades." Woman's Christian Temperance Union. WCTU, n.d. Web. 2 May 2014.
[5] Separate Paths: Suffragists and the Women's Temperance Crusade, Jack S. Blocker, Jr. Signs, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Spring, 1985), pp. 460-476
[6] "The Prohibition Era Begins." Ohio Memory. Ohio Memory, 1 June 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.
Since many of the activists were women, men believed women were supposed to stay at home and take care of their children and house. Men declared that it was a woman’s job to raise virtuous children [3]. Women fought for the future of their children since they didn’t want them to do what was immoral. They argued with men stating that “If women were responsible for raising virtuous children, women, they contended, should also play a role in helping those people who have become consumed by immoral acts redeem themselves [3].” Women didn’t want men to be of bad influence to their children and felt it was greatly important to ban the use of alcohol.
Temperance advocates held a woman’s temperance convention in 1853. Participants in this convention drafted a constitution and organized the Ohio Women’s Temperance Society [3]. This organization’s first president was Josephine Bateman, who was also the editor of Ohio Cultivator’s “Ladies Department [3].” In the 1870s, many women were inspired to protest and organize politically for the cause of the temperance in memory of the many wives and mothers whose lives had been ruined by the men consuming alcoholic beverages [1]. In 1873 Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton both started an organization known as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) along with women who felt a need to stop alcohol consumption [1]. In 1874 the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was founded.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Eliza Thompson, daughter of a former governor and wife of a highly respected judge, women began their first march from a church to saloons [4]. Ever since then, members of the WCTU marched to saloons and drug stores, to pray for the souls of barkeepers and patrons [6]. When women were denied entrance, they would kneel on pavements until sellers capitulated [4]. Women would also demand that owners of drug stores and saloons sign a pledge that would no longer allow them to sell alcohol [6]. Women felt the great need of entreating the owners to close these evil establishments because they ruined the lives of those in the United States [2]. These marches are also known as crusades and it was during these times (1873-1874) that the Women’s Temperance Crusade brought thousands of women to participate, leading to the first largest temperance movement, by and for women [p 461, 5].
[1] Women's Christian Temperance Union. Roots of Prohibition. PBS, 2011. Web.
[2] Sayre, Jim. Temperance Movement Had Roots in Shelby County, Ohio. Shelby County Historical Society. Shelby County Historical Society, Feb. 1997. Web. 2 May 2014.
[3] Gu, Paul. "Tempreance Movement." Ohio History Central. Ohio History Central, 2013. Web. 2 May 2014.
[4] "Crusades." Woman's Christian Temperance Union. WCTU, n.d. Web. 2 May 2014.
[5] Separate Paths: Suffragists and the Women's Temperance Crusade, Jack S. Blocker, Jr. Signs, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Spring, 1985), pp. 460-476
[6] "The Prohibition Era Begins." Ohio Memory. Ohio Memory, 1 June 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.