Hannah Diehl, Stephan Brown, and Lindsay Walker

Main Goals of the Temperance Reform To make the sale of liquor and alcohol illegal The main goal of the temperance reform was to make the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages illegal. To lower crime Many Temperance reformers believe that many crimes were caused by the use of alcohol, and that eliminating alcohol would improve public safety by reducing crime. To improve health Many doctors and scientist proved the harmful affects of alcohol on the human body and health problems could be fixed with less alcohol consumption. To help women and children negatively affected by alcoholic husbands and fathers Many blamed the domestic violence in families on the consumption of alcohol and that children were negatively affected by their parents drinking. To purify Americans Many religious people saw drinking as a crime and sin and that in removing alcohol, they would be fixing human nature.

Methods Used in the Temperance Reform Bar smashing The destruction of bars as a method of temperance was not widely used, but one prohibitionist, Carry Nation, became notorious for the method. Scientific Publications Many publications and pamphlets were created and circulated by temperance reform advocates and groups to increase support and awareness of the temperance reform. Many of these publications used scientific facts and statistics and medical reasons to appeal to people looking for logical reasons to ban the sale of alcohol. Religious and Moral Publications The temperance reform took place around the time of The Second Great Awakening, and many people were susceptible to arguments that based their points in religion and that was used in many publications in favor of Temperance. Posters and Propaganda Posters and other types of propaganda, such as songs, poems, and children’s stories were also methods used in the temperance movements. Education on Alcohol Beginning in 1869 people began yearning for alcohol education in schools to prevent a generation of alcoholics and alcohol abuse. In 1873, The National Temperance society required all schools, both public and private, to have instruction on the effects of alcohol.

Key People in the Temperance Reform Carry Nation Carry A. Nation was one of the most famous figures from the pre-prohibition temperance movement. She was notorious for attacking bars and saloons with her hatchet. Frances Willard Frances E. Willard was a prominent social reformer in 9 th century America. She supported temperance, as well as women’s suffrage, women’s religious and economic rights, and prison, education, and labor reforms. Bishop James Cannon Jr. James Cannon Jr. was a bishop of the southern Methodist Church and a leader in prohibition in Virginia. Cannon pushed the statewide prohibition of alcohol in Virginia while on the Virginia Anti-Saloon League, of which he was a key founding member. Benjamin Rush Benjamin Rush was a physician who wrote the essay “The Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon Man” that was used many times as arguments for the temperance reform

Accomplishment of the Temperance Reform The Eighteenth Amendment The temperance movement successfully got the constitution amended to make the sale, production, and consumption of alcohol illegal. It was later repealed. But the main goal of temperance was to make alcohol illegal and it technically was. Closing of Bars As a result of alcohol becoming illegal, many public bar, taverns, and pubs were closed. However, many establishments continued to operate outside of the law, still some establishments were closed for good in the process. Drop in Alcohol Consumption Although drinking continued despite prohibition, the amount of alcohol that was consumed dropped significantly. The per capita consumption of alcohol dropped by a third to a half. Reduction in Severe Drunkenness As well as the amount of alcohol that was consumed, alcohol consumption to the point of severe drunkenness and impairment. Temporary Reduction in Deaths Caused by Drinking As the consumption of alcohol declined the deaths caused by it did as well. The death rate from cirrhosis of the liver fell by half.