Temperance and Moral Entreprenuers

Beginning in the middle of the 19th century, social reformers began a nationwide campaign to absolve the United States of social ills. Among them were slavery, juvenile delinquency, and alcohol abuse. After the establishment of juvenile courts and following the constitutional amendments ensuring African Americans their freedom, these same reformers turned to the issue of alcohol use.[1] This strongly female led effort began to organize in a way not seen before. Organizations, such as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, lead the Temperance movement into the 20th century and drove it to national prominence. These groups were instrumental in the creation of the national Prohibition Party, which sought to reform the United States from within its own government. As Perry R Duis notes, it was when Prohibitionists worked from within a legislative or other governing body, that Prohibition reforms made the largest gains.[2]

However there were many Prohibitionist reformers who chose to combat the American drinking habit in a much more direct way. Carrie Nation and similar minded women chose to use violence and combative marches to discourage Americans from drinking and saloon owners from selling.[3] Yet it was those Prohibitionists who chose to infiltrate the governing bodies and influence legislators that brought Prohibition its greatest success, the 18th amendment and Volstead Act. These two pieces of legislation would finally involve the federal government in creating and enforcing the vision for America that the Prohibitionist had been working to attain.  


[1] Martin Alan Greenburg, Prohibition Enforcement: Charting a New Mission (Illinois: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 1999) 23.

[2] Perry R. Duis, The Saloon: Public Drinking in Chicago and Boston 1880-1920 (Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1983), 34.

[3] “The Ohio Whisky Wars,” Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1874.