1. Mary C Vaughan and the Temperance Movement
Brett Daley and Hugh Walker
April 8, 2011

2. Background Alcohol Problems Feminist Movement Second Great Awakening
Believed it caused people to act disruptively
Some families wasted their entire wages on alcohol
Believed to increase domestic violence
Rise in alcohol consumption in early 1800s
Feminist Movement
Cult of Domesticity
Idea that housework and child care were the only proper activities for married women
Second Great Awakening

3. Temperance Banner Lithograph, by Kellog and Cornstock

4. Temperance Movement American Temperance Society formed in 1826
Thousands more local groups also formed
By 1838 one million people had pledged to give up alcohol
Maine banned the sale of liquor in 1851
In 1852 Mary C Vaughan spoke at a Temperance Meeting
By other states had adopted similar laws

5. Goals Sought to illegalize drinking of alcohol
Share insight into the destructive capabilities of alcohol
Improve social conduct and hygiene in society and reduce crime

6. Temperance Meeting, 1852
“There is no reform in which women can act better or more appropriately than temperance… Its effects fall so crushingly upon her…she has often seen its slow, insidious, but not the less surely fatal advances, gaining upon its victim. …Oh! The misery, the utter, hopeless misery of the drunkard’s wife!” -Mary C Vaughan

7. Supporters Feminists Businesses Churches
Hoped it would reduce domestic violence
Businesses
Wanted their workers to be more responsible
Churches
Felt it would reduce disruptive and unholy behavior

8. Collapse Unpopular with the public
Not as effective as it was hoped to be
States eventually removed laws due to widespread unpopularity

9. Prohibition
The anti-alcohol sentiment was still strong with many reformists into the early 20th century
18th amendment banned sale, manufacture, put in effect on January 16, 1920
Also extremely unpopular and ineffective due to bootlegging and “speakeasies”
Repealed in 1933 by the 21st amendment