What is the Temperance Movement?
In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed as a result of the temperance movement, outlawing the production and sale of alcohol. Alcohol consumption was a regular activity and was largely unregulated. At the end of the 18th century, doctors and religious leaders realized the impact of drinking on people's lives and called for temperance in alcohol consumption. As a result, the first temperance societies were formed in the early 19th century, and members signed pledges agreeing to drink in moderation.
Many temperance advocates relied on publication of statistics to gain supporters. In 1790, the average adult consumed about 5.8 gallons of alcohol a year. The numbers were on the rise, and in 1810 the average adult drank 7.1 gallons. Supporters believed that these statistics had a direct correlation with crime and social issues. Temperance started as a religious movement, but as workers' productivity began to decline due to drinking, many business leaders soon joined the cause. Women also joined the temperance movement for protection for their families. Women feared that drunken husbands would lose their jobs, putting their families in economic instablility, or that they would physically abuse their families. Temperance advocates linked the social problems to alcohol abuse; they reasoned that temperance would resolve the social problems they faced.
At first, the movement was based on "moral suasion". Members believed that they could convince people that overindulging in alcohol was wrong, and had people sign pledges in support of the cause. Supporters began to argue that morality was not a strong enough driving force behind the movement, and that it was not very efficient. They decided that since people could not be forced to honor their pledges, a more drastic measure had to be taken. Temperance supporters' focus had shifted to passing laws restricting the sale of alcohol, which would be the only way to solve problems created by alcohol.
Controversy rose among temperance societies when disagreements on how to reduce alcohol abuse. Some temperance supporters believed that the only way to fix the problems was by total elimination of alcohol, while others believed that beer and wine were acceptable, and that distilled spirits were the problem. By the mid-19th century, temperance support had split. Some states became "dry", banning alcohol. Advocates in "dry states" believed that any drinking would eventually lead to abusive drinking. Others did not support temperance, and were known as "wet" because they did not limit alcohol consumption. In dry states, the laws were challenged, and some states repealed them. In 1833, temperance societies merged to form the National Temperance Movement.
The Union fought for legislative laws, as temperance became more of a growing issue during the 1830's. Eventually, "no-license" laws were passed. The laws required establishments to obtain licenses to sell alcohol. This law allowed towns to easily control temperance by voting on issuing alcohol licenses. In 1835, Massachusetts was one of the first states to pass a no-license law. Later, Massachusetts further restricted the sale of alcohol by passing a "fifteen-gallon law", setting a minimum purchase level of fifteen gallons of alcohol. Fifteen gallons of alcohol was too hefty and costly for most people to buy for casual drinking. The law was repealed in 1840, but was soon replaced with a larger quantity of a 28-gallon minimum. In 1847, the Supreme Court supported minimum purchase and no-license laws, ruling that states had the right to regulate the sale of alcohol.
As controversies rose over the temperance movement, another major temperance group, the Anti-Saloon league (ASL), was formed in 1893. The ASL's continuous efforts led to the 18th Amendment, outlawing the manufacture and sale of alcohol nationwide, and set the pro-temperance groups ahead.
Many temperance advocates relied on publication of statistics to gain supporters. In 1790, the average adult consumed about 5.8 gallons of alcohol a year. The numbers were on the rise, and in 1810 the average adult drank 7.1 gallons. Supporters believed that these statistics had a direct correlation with crime and social issues. Temperance started as a religious movement, but as workers' productivity began to decline due to drinking, many business leaders soon joined the cause. Women also joined the temperance movement for protection for their families. Women feared that drunken husbands would lose their jobs, putting their families in economic instablility, or that they would physically abuse their families. Temperance advocates linked the social problems to alcohol abuse; they reasoned that temperance would resolve the social problems they faced.
At first, the movement was based on "moral suasion". Members believed that they could convince people that overindulging in alcohol was wrong, and had people sign pledges in support of the cause. Supporters began to argue that morality was not a strong enough driving force behind the movement, and that it was not very efficient. They decided that since people could not be forced to honor their pledges, a more drastic measure had to be taken. Temperance supporters' focus had shifted to passing laws restricting the sale of alcohol, which would be the only way to solve problems created by alcohol.
Controversy rose among temperance societies when disagreements on how to reduce alcohol abuse. Some temperance supporters believed that the only way to fix the problems was by total elimination of alcohol, while others believed that beer and wine were acceptable, and that distilled spirits were the problem. By the mid-19th century, temperance support had split. Some states became "dry", banning alcohol. Advocates in "dry states" believed that any drinking would eventually lead to abusive drinking. Others did not support temperance, and were known as "wet" because they did not limit alcohol consumption. In dry states, the laws were challenged, and some states repealed them. In 1833, temperance societies merged to form the National Temperance Movement.
The Union fought for legislative laws, as temperance became more of a growing issue during the 1830's. Eventually, "no-license" laws were passed. The laws required establishments to obtain licenses to sell alcohol. This law allowed towns to easily control temperance by voting on issuing alcohol licenses. In 1835, Massachusetts was one of the first states to pass a no-license law. Later, Massachusetts further restricted the sale of alcohol by passing a "fifteen-gallon law", setting a minimum purchase level of fifteen gallons of alcohol. Fifteen gallons of alcohol was too hefty and costly for most people to buy for casual drinking. The law was repealed in 1840, but was soon replaced with a larger quantity of a 28-gallon minimum. In 1847, the Supreme Court supported minimum purchase and no-license laws, ruling that states had the right to regulate the sale of alcohol.
As controversies rose over the temperance movement, another major temperance group, the Anti-Saloon league (ASL), was formed in 1893. The ASL's continuous efforts led to the 18th Amendment, outlawing the manufacture and sale of alcohol nationwide, and set the pro-temperance groups ahead.