The fight for an alcohol free america
In 1919, the 18th Amendment was approved, outlawing the production and sale of alcohol in America. Prior to the Amendment, alcohol consumtion was a part of everyday life, and was largely unregulated. Early in the 19th century, the first temperance societies were formed; members signed pledges agreeing to drink in moderation because doctors and religious leaders became concerned with the impact of alcohol on people's lives. As alcohol comsumption reached an all time high in 1830, the temperance socities started as religious groups but soon included business leaders as they noticed drinking had an impact on their workers. Eventually, drinking became a social problem and women joined the movement. Women feared that drunken husbands were likely to lose their job, putting their families in financial trouble and were more likely to be physically abusive to their families.
The Temperance Movement orignally began as a socal movement based on moral values. Supporters of the movement were mostly religious groups who believed getting people to pledge to consume less alcohol by convincing people overindulging in alcohol was morally wrong. However, as support of the movement grew, people began to believe that moral values weren't effective enough. They believed that the only was to be effiecent was to regulate the consumption of all alcohol by prohibiting sales. The change in how the goal of temperance was pursued sparked conflict. The Temperance Movement spilt into groups; some arguing that these measures were necessary to resolve growing problems due to alcohol consumption, and others arguing that the Temperance Movement unjustly restricted people's rights.
The Temperance Movement orignally began as a socal movement based on moral values. Supporters of the movement were mostly religious groups who believed getting people to pledge to consume less alcohol by convincing people overindulging in alcohol was morally wrong. However, as support of the movement grew, people began to believe that moral values weren't effective enough. They believed that the only was to be effiecent was to regulate the consumption of all alcohol by prohibiting sales. The change in how the goal of temperance was pursued sparked conflict. The Temperance Movement spilt into groups; some arguing that these measures were necessary to resolve growing problems due to alcohol consumption, and others arguing that the Temperance Movement unjustly restricted people's rights.