Demon Alcohol

Prohibition
Prohibition
Some members of the movement were
hesitant against Prohibition because of their
relationships with liquor dealers.
Politics caused a schism within the
movement. Those who opposed the political
aspects were from religious reasons.
Evangelicals believed one could be
reformed and forgiven of their sin.
Eventually they fell in step with those who
favored prohibition instead of forgiveness.
Sin
The government was licensing sin!
If the public was godly then decent laws
would not be far behind.
Felt politics would speed up the process of
getting rid of alcohol.
Alcohol corrupted the political process and
also immigrants who drank were feared due
to their political power.
Elections
Reformers vowed not to vote for
any candidate who was a heavy
drinker or non supporter of the
movement.
1
st
success in 1838 with the
banning of liquor sales in
quantities less than 15 gallons in
MA.
The law caused problems
between the reformers and the
sellers. Law was repealed in
1840.
Reformers shifted their cause to
the towns who were convinced
to go dry.

Laws
1839 Miss. Passed a law similar
to MA.
1846 New York law passed.
1846 SCOTUS ruled in favor of
states not awarding liquor
licenses to sell distilled spirits.
1840s Maine led the way in the
reform mvmt. It gained much of
its support from Neal Dow.
Neal Dow & Maine
Convinced enough people to prohibit the sale of alcohol in Portland .
By 1851, Dow and his supporters had banned the sale and
manufacture of liquor in the state.
Influence of Neal Dow
Staunch prohibitionist
Influenced the American Temperance Union
to support prohibition.
13 states were dry.
By 1855 all of New England, Midwest and
NY were dry.
Between 1830-1850 consumption of alcohol
declined.
By the Civil War most of these laws were
gone.
1840s & 1850s
Were against the Jacksonians and
Democrats who were for the common
people.
The reformers began to use the skills of their
opponents to push their agenda. Were
against rum-sellers and drinkers.
Joined other political campaigns: anti-
Mason, slavery, nativism. Were pro-
Republican and for womens rights.
Convinced their members that to not rely on
legislation but to reform the sinners away
from drink.
Race & The Temperance
Movement
Began in the late 18
th
century.
Appeared in free black communities in
towns and cities of the northeast by the late
1820s.
In Boston, black and white women worked
together in the Temperance movement.
Movement was in the black churches,
communities and newspapers.
Most of the leaders were also anti-slavery
advocates.
Race & The Temperance
Movement
Blacks did not separate the temperance
movement from their social agenda.
Equated drinking to bondage .
1830 s black reformers saw alcohol as a
threat to education , justice and economic
might of blacks.
Just as their white counterparts in the
movement who were accused of imposing
their middle class values on the poor. The
difference was that the black reformers saw
the drinker as a tool against freedom.
Why was the Temperance
Mvmt Successful?
The first reason is that America had a
drinking problem that affected all parts of
American cultures.
Drunkenness had increased significantly in
the late 18
th
century.
It took social and cultural pressures to get
the reform movement started. It was these
pressures that exposed America to the plight
of the poor and the impact on the countrys
morality and economic power that brought
about the movement.
Why Did They Do It?
Did the elite join the mvmt to save the poor? Or
was it an avenue to make themselves look
good and for the economic rewards?
Provide self-discipline, moral support, gaining
control over a destructive import and it gave
drinkers a moral compass and control of their
lives.
Gender roles and it impact on society was
resolved.
Temperance Movement involvement of women
was less threatening than anti-slavery and
womens rights issues of the time.
Conclusion
Many of the men who signed the pledge
were young and lived on the fringes of
society. They did not have wealth but some
were trying to work their way up the rungs of
society.
Men sought self-control which could be seen
as a virtue for those men who were trying to
make it in life.
Some of the organizations provided
healthcare, employment and assistance so
that men could get on and stay on their feet
in the time when government would not.