The Temperance Movement, the first organized campaign in the U.S. to limit the amount of alcohol consumption, was the most widespread reform movement of the early 1800s. By the 1830s, the average American over fifteen years of age consumed about seven gallons of pure alcohol per year. That's about three times as much as the average American today.
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American men drank for every occasion, every meal, and every outing. There were even bells that would go off twice during the work day to signify a drinking break. The alcohol that Americans before this time period consumed was mostly beer that had 2% alcohol content and they were used to drinking all day. But by the early 19th Century, the alcohol content in most drinks jumped up to around 60% and people continued to drink sun up to sun down.
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Abstinence from Alcohol
Temperance orator John Bartholomew Gough encouraged many families in the U.S. to stay away from alcohol completely and sign a family contract stating that they would do so. This did cut down the amount of alcohol consumption a little because people signed it in the name of God and did not want to go to hell for breaking the pledge. But by then, a lot of men were alcoholics and could not suddenly cut out drinking all together even if they did sign a temperance pledge. Temperance societies were established first in New York and Massachusetts and by 1826, the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was created. After this, largely due to the promotion of many churches, around 6,000 temperance groups in states all across America formed in the 1830s. One of the largest groups was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This group of women often met in larger cities and then dispersed across the country. They would protest and pray in front of saloons trying to encourage men to stop drinking. People took this temperance uprising as a chance to address other national issues such as unfairness towards blacks and neglect among women. The Temperance Movement eventually lead to Prohibition in America, where the U.S. was voted "dry." This did not have a long term effect though, because obviously, Americans can purchase alcohol today. But it did significantly cut down the amount of alcohol abuse in the United States.
Connections
Prohibition - The Temperance Movement connects to Prohibition because it was what started the anti-alcohol movement which eventually became a law. (The 21st Amendment mandated nationwide Prohibition on alcohol)
Silent Majority - The Temperance Movement connects to the Silent Majority because the women who were being neglected and abused by their husbands who consumed immense amounts of alcohol were the silent majority.
Religious Rights - The Temperance Movement connects to Religious Rights because it was largely the efforts of Protestant and Catholic churches which created more temperance societies. This gave the religious people a lot of power in persuading many Americans to speak out and join the anti-alcohol movement.
Silent Majority - The Temperance Movement connects to the Silent Majority because the women who were being neglected and abused by their husbands who consumed immense amounts of alcohol were the silent majority.
Religious Rights - The Temperance Movement connects to Religious Rights because it was largely the efforts of Protestant and Catholic churches which created more temperance societies. This gave the religious people a lot of power in persuading many Americans to speak out and join the anti-alcohol movement.