Temperance_past

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= Temperance = "Liquor is a menace to patriotism because it puts beer before country," Wayne Wheeler (Odegard, 1928: 72). = An overview: =

During the late 1700s many people grew concerned with the excessive amounts of alcohol consumption occurring, especially in the north. In an effort to stop the growing amount of adults and children from continuing in what some believed to be the path to a terrible lifestyle, the Temperance movement was born. Through a combination of **groups, leaders, leaflets and newspaper articles** this movement was fairly successful, and changed the way the world views alcohol and drunkenness.



**What historical forces led to the rise of the movement?**
**What started all of the movements of the 19th century?** The time period between the 18th and 20th centuries is often still referred to as the **"Age of Reform"** Many different movements ranging from religion to prison reform were created during this time. In the 1800's there was a huge amount of growth in the North both industrially as well as population wise. This brought a change in the **culture** of the North, but it is important to note that the South was changing too. The idea of slavery was being debated and fought for a good amount of the 19th century. The country was also expanding and bringing on a new set of problems both culturally and politically. In order to stop the sense of impending doom with all of the negative changes, both men and women organized themselves into reform groups to help the country regain a sense of **stability.**

** TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT SPECIFICALLY **
 * The second great awakening, a religious movement meant to revolutionize the United States, was a big **influence** on many other movements trying to "purify" America. The temperance movement was one of them.
 * As a result of the **difficult economic times**, many turned to alcohol as a way to save on money. It was **cheaper**, in **abundance** (especially hard liquor such as whiskey), and a lot **safer** than much of the available water
 * Many **soldiers** returning from the Revolutionary war found themselves broke, and frequently turned to alcohol in order to ease their pains.
 * **Immigrants,** mostly from Europe, brought their drinking culture with them, and also increased alcohol consumption.
 * Since such a huge amount of drink surrounded the population people became increasingly worried about the effect of alcohol on their society. More and more women were **abused** by drunk husbands, there appeared to be **less productivity**, and it is undisputed that intoxication became a **norm of society** at the turn of the 18th century. At this point, many scientists and doctors were slowly coming out with new research on the **dangers** of drinking and therefore encouraging the temperance movement.
 * The movement originally started to **reduce** the consumption of alcohol, and help the U.S. with temperance to curb the growing intoxication rates. However, as the movement grew and gained more support there were many advocates of **completely abolishing** alcohol.

// Minutes 2:20-3:32 //

**What major figures were involved in the movemen****t?**
** Frances Willard ** ( 1839-1898 ): Willard was part of the **Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)** and worked hard for both women's rights and moderating dr inking. Under Willard's guidance, the WCTU became,not just a religious group, but a group that was actively working for women's rights -- and moderation. She petitioned for women in Illinois to be allowed to **vote** on the alcohol issue. It was denied, but it had a big affect on the way Illinois looked at drinking. Willard was adept at getting conventions to be "well-publicized, smooth-running, and inspiring affairs." Willard also was a **pioneer** of the movement because she was an expert at forming connections with other religious groups that would help the WCTU achieve their goals. It is evident she was a key player in the temperance movement because, in its later years, the WCTU represented **2 million women**. This means that 2 million women were supporting temperance. Willard was the first to combine the two issues - temperance and women's rights - and helped to move them both forward.


 * Amos Beman ** ( 1812-1874 ): Worked as a clergyman in **Maine** and was invested in the Temperance movement. **Religion** was a huge factor in moving the temperance movement forward, and Beman used this to his advantage. He gave many **sermons** on the importance of temperance, and how it affects daily life. His most famous contributions include: founding Maine's first complete abstinence group, and contributing to multiple newspapers. 1836 was when Beman founded the **The Connecticut state temperance society of colored people**, which was the first abstinence group in Maine. //Colored American, Zion's Wesleyan, Voice of the Fugitive,// and //Weekly Anglo-African// were some of the newspapers that Beman contributed to.

**Neal Dow** ( 1804-1897 )**:** Dow was mostly focused on temperance in **Maine** as he had grown up there as a **quaker**. He gave his first temperance address at age of twenty four, and became an activist against abusing alcohol. He was a part of many different groups/ conventions including: **Maine Charitable Mechanics' Association**, **Maine State Temperance Society**, and the **Main Temperance Union** (which he founded.) Dow was also known for often traveling to Europe, mostly England, to give speeches on Temperance. Dow's group supported **total abstinance** from drinking.In 1851 Dow became the **mayor** of Portland, and he created a bill in whic h it would be illegal to traffic alcohol which was heard by the House of Representatives. Most people in Maine favored Prohibition. The act was repealed in 1855, then set in place again in 1858.


 * Lyman Beecher ** **( 1775-1863 ) ****: ** During Beecher's lifetime the policies regarding drinking were not very harsh, and did not control the consumption of alcohol. His most well known act against temperance was his **six sermons** in 1825  that spoke on the **evils** of drinking. These sermons were published and spread throughout the United States and Europe. As a clergyman, Beecher had a big influence, especially on his congregation. Often Beecher would preach twice on Sunday as well as during the week. As the leader of the General Association of Connecticut, he made **drastic changes** regarding temperance. Also, he was a main contributor to the "Connecticut Observer" for which he wrote **articles** on temperance and his beliefs. He was one of the **co-founders** of the **American Temperance Society (ATS)** the first national, instead of local, society working towards abstinence.


 * Justin Edwards **( 1787-1853 )**:** Originally from **Boston**, Edwards also spread the word of abstinence as far as he could through preaching. He was another co-founder of the American Temperance Society in 1826  and worked as the society’s **secretary** for seven years. During this time he also traveled, made speeches and prepared the **“Temperance Documents.”** Thiese were a series of **essays and documents** Edwards wrote and collected, which were eventually distributed across the country.


 * Lillian Stevens **( 1844-1914 ): During the 1870’s <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13pt;"> Stevens first became interested in both temperance and women’s rights. She worked at the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and became its’ **secretary** in <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13pt;">1880 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13pt;">. She became the **leader** of the WCTU movement after the death of Frances Willard. Under Willard the membership of the WCTU grew enormously as did the success of the group as a whole. During the time of Stevens’ presidency of the society **six** different states signed **prohibition laws**: North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.

**What methods/tactics were used to lead the movement?**
Methods: Different organizations and groups were a MAJOR tool of the movement

> > > Different methods of these groups
 * 1) 1826 :  American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, first society in support of temperance
 * 2) 1869 :  National Prohibition Party political party focused on stopping sales of alcohol
 * 3) 1874 :  Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) used propaganda and lobbying; very successful
 * 4) 1895 :  Anti - Saloon League of America worked with republicans to get any laws against drinking passed they could for specific states' preexisting legislature.
 * **Lecturers** and **missionaries** sent to churches who gave sermons encouraging people to sign abstinence pledges.
 * **Pamphlets**
 * ** Periodicals **
 * **Boycotts** of places that sell alcohol (ie. taverns and saloons) The institution of **temperance hotels** so that people could continue to abstain even when not at home.
 * Associated **devil** and other **demons** with alcohol and caused fear among drinkers; helped to associate abstinent people with **angels**



Women
 * Had one of the most major influences on the Temperance movement
 * At this time, the movement was tied up with women's rights
 * Advocates for women's rights were invested in substance use reduction as well
 * They closed down saloons from 1 873-1874 by having **prayer meetings** in the entrances
 * Masters of **propaganda and lobbying**, women often used it to help move their cause forwards
 * Women Boycotted liquor selling markets in order to make alcohol **less** of an **asset** to the **economy**
 * Because women were left home to do the housework and care for the children, they had more **time** to voice their opinions than the full-time working men of the house, some of whom did not even support the cause



OBSTACLES:
One of the most difficult problems to overcome for the temperance movement as a whole was the **factions** that developed within the different temperance groups. While some were advocating only temperance as opposed to complete abstention, others debated on whether the **government** should actually be involved, and the temperance organizations were slowly **splitting up** instead of becoming more **united**. The smaller differences that separated the members of this group were greatly augmented by the **Civil War**. Another large problem concerned those who **preached against drunkenness** but would **still drink no matter what** they themselves said. **Hypocrisy** caused many followers as well as potential members to rise up against their leaders. In 1855 while **Neal Dow** was mayor of Portland, it was rumored that he was **selling liquor** out of the town hall’s basement. A huge **mob** rose against Dow, and it was only brought into light after the fact that he was selling the alcohol for **medicinal purposes**. Different situations such as these made it difficult for the movement to continue forward. Entertainment was infused with the ideals of the temperance movement. Stories and plays often included stories of salvation from drinking as encouragement for anybody to be able to abstain..... AN EXCERPT FROM THE PLAY: The Drunkard by P.T. Barnum EDWARD. (Starts) Who and what are you?

RENCELAW. I am one of those whose life and labors are passed in rescuing their fellow men from the abyss into which you have fallen. I administer the pledge of sobriety to those who would once more become an ornament to society, and a blessing to themselves and to those around them.

<span style="color: #29b329; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EDWARD. Indeed! no, no; it is too late.

RENCELAW. You mistake; it is not too late. Come with me, we will restore you to society. Reject not my prayers; strength will be given you, the Father of purity smiles upon honest endeavors. Come, my brother, enroll your name among the free, the disenthralled, and be a man again. (//Takes his hand//.) EDWARD. Merciful heaven! grant the prayer of a poor wretch be heard. <span style="color: #20c5c5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(//Exeunt//, R.).............................................................................................................

Was/Is the movement successful in achieving its goals?
Of course, as we still today live in a world where alcohol is present and sometimes abused, the temperance movement was **not 100 percent successful** in regards to the complete abolition of all alcohol, but it was **not completely unsuccessful** either. Some of the effects were **short term**, while others have still made it to **today** in which our world has not completely turned into that of constant fear and **chaos** that the early reformers were so **scared** of and trying so hard to avoid.


 * By 1834 the first ever temperance organization, the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance had **5000 local chapters** and **1 million national members**
 * The **average** amount for an American to drink went down from **7 gallons** a year in 1820 **to just 3** by the end of the 19th century


 * In 1846 there was the first statewide prohibition act which led to the **Maine Law** of 1851


 * During the 1850s **14 other states** also passed "Maine Laws", but by 1868 Maine itself was the only state left with actual prohibition laws still in place


 * The temperance movement **continued** on to be fought for into the **20th century** under president **Woodrow Wilson**


 * One could even say we are **still fighting** it, in our younger generation especially, today.

THE END