Essay about Temperance movement

Submitted By littlered260
Words: 739
Pages: 3
Open Document
The Temperance Movement

There have been many large social movements in history that have had a profound effect on society. Many of the movements most people remember from history occurred between the 17th and 20th century. Many of these were successful; however there is one that backfired. In the early 20th century, a large group of people (mostly comprised of women) united in an effort to ban the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. This became known as the temperance movement. The group eventually succeeded and alcohol became illegal in the US for 14 years from 1919 to 1933. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) as well as the Anti-Saloon League had significant political power and were backed up by the churches, which helped them achieve their goals. They turned from a moral standpoint on prohibition to demanding government control of liquor ("Temperance Movements.”).The only legal way to get it was to either have possessed it before the 18th amendment was passed, or to obtain it by prescription from a doctor. The temperance movement was not as effective as the anti-alcohol group had hoped. Their strategy and tactics were not as effective as they could have been, which led to the end of prohibition less than twenty years after alcohol was illegalized. The WTCU among other groups believed that alcohol was destroying families. At first, groups against alcohol organized non-violent protests, but then turned to law makers to make alcohol illegal. The groups were successful within legislation. The 18th amendment was passed by congress and alcohol became illegal to possess, transport, and purchase. The original tactics were focused at societal reform, but switched to legislative reform. The goal was to create a dry America in order to decrease crime and corruption lower taxes, improve health and hygiene and lower social problems. There were some tactics used by the WTCU that came under fire. It was found that they were promoting false information and exaggerating the truth to the point of indoctrination rather than instruction in an effort to reach their goals. Still, in the end, it may have made a tremendous contribution to the passage of the 18th Amendment. Because the groups attacked alcohol on a legislative level and not a social level, many people still consumed and purchased and transported liquor. No social change had been made, which is where change is most important. Secret bars called “speakeasies” where created in basements of legal businesses, and organized crime flourished making and selling alcohol in the woods, a process that became known as “moonshining”. They also imported liquor from Canada by river or trucks and sold it in the US. People kept drinking, and as the years went by, prohibition was failing. If the groups who aimed to eliminate alcohol changed society instead of law, the plan would have worked for a longer period of time. You can change laws, but not change people. If you can change people,
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Temperance movement

Temperance Movement In The 1800s

The temperance movement was an organized effort to encourage a moderation in the amount of drinking liquors, or to completely remove it. Temperance efforts were started in ireland in the 1820s then went to britain, scotland, and sweden. Temperance efforts begin in the U.S during the beginning of the 1800s; and in 1830 the U.S. had 6,000 temperance groups. The movement's success climaxed when the 18th amendment was passed, but then when it was repealed by the 21st amendment the movement lost motivation…

Words 86 - Pages 1

Temperance Movement Vs Prohibition Movement

On account of our discovery of fermentation, opponents to alcohol have attempted to eliminate its consumption for centuries. The movement better known as temperance movement or the prohibition movement, was widely supported, by religious and rural conservatives, urban progressives; men and women, sometimes working with each other occasionally working separately; wealthy business owners, which, believed that the consumption of alcoholic beverages lessened the work productivity; workers whom felt that…

Words 409 - Pages 2

Abolitionist Movement: Temperance And Suffrage Movements

Abolitionist movement, as well as the Temperance and Suffrage movements, women were expected to embody the traditional values represented by the home” (10-12). Women were expected to live up to extremely high standards according to society. Women overall strived to better their lives, and to mean more to society. There were many high expectations for women. They were mainly expected to protect the family while the men provided for the family. They were expected to also be educated, which was hard…

Words 341 - Pages 2

Temperance Movement Research Paper

Most major social reform movements bring substantial and lasting changes in the way people live, think, and behave. The temperance movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was an exception in many ways: "Temperance" refers to the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, in the context of the temperance movement, the term usually indicated complete abstinence, which means drinking no alcohol at all. The goal of the temperance movement in the United States was to make…

Words 461 - Pages 2

Temperance Movement Research Paper

wanted change. This caused the Temperance Movement which was very popular. The Temperance Movement was against alcohol which some wanted to limit the item, as others wanted the beverage completely banned. This movement was to achieve a couple of goals with alcohol. The movement had many leaders and organizations, which had some great days and some bumpy roads. The United States was affected positively and negatively, especially with the Prohibition in 1919. This movement was not accepted by everyone…

Words 1573 - Pages 7

Temperance Movement Research Paper

Religious fervor in the early 19 century lead to the start of the temperance movement. Across America, preachers advocated for the complete abstinence of alcohol. In addition, many members of the clergy linked alcohol with perdition. Therefore, it was a sin to consume alcoholic beverages. Moreover, priests would deliver terrifying sermons on the spiritual consequences of consuming alcohol striking fear on their congregations. Simultaneously, physicians at that time concluded that alcohol was responsible…

Words 884 - Pages 4

The Role Of The Temperance Movement In The 1930's

three times as much as we drink today. The Temperance Movement of the 1830s was the first serious movement that was anti-alcohol. The movement succeeded in its goal in 1919 with the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment that took effect the following year. For nearly thirteen years, a period known as the Prohibition era, the creation, transport, and sale of alcohol was against the law. Most major social reform movements bring substantial and lasting changes in…

Words 723 - Pages 3

Temperance Movement and Great Awakening Essay

Great Awakening, was led by passionate and emotional preachers. 2. The Mormons emerged from these beginnings and wandered westward to the Great Salt Lake. 3. Free public schools began in large measure. 4. There was push to ban alcohol called "temperance." This was led by the ladies; they felt the way to save the family was to ban alcohol. 5. The first women's rights convention was held at Seneca Falls, NY. They asserted that all men, and women were created equal. 6. Many "utopia experiments"…

Words 2056 - Pages 9

Part Of The Temperance Movement: Susan B. Anthony

choose she is the one that i look up to the most. Susan B. Anthony just amazes me. Susan B. Anthony and her family were part of the temperance movement. She was inspired by the temperance movement to fight for women’s rights. Anthony was inspired because she had been denied the chance to speak at a temperance convention because she was a woman. The suffrage movement started when Anthony realized that women would never be taken seriously if they could not vote. Susan became good friends with Elizabeth…

Words 310 - Pages 2

Essay on Your Government at Work

tables at the Temperance House, where Mr. Oakhurst had frequented. A Temperance House derived from the Temperance Movement. “The Temperance Movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries was an organized effort to encourage moderation in the consumption of intoxicating liquors or press for complete abstinence.”(“The Temperance Movement”). This was the origin of Prohibition. In the 1820's and 1830's, a wave of religious revivalism swept the U.S. Leading to increased calls for temperance, as well as…

Words 832 - Pages 4