At the start of the 1800s a number of people were concern with the high consumption of alcohol in the society. The concern grew during the 1800s as many people could not deal with the rise in inflation, and the speed at which the inflation moved after the war of independence. Others drank because alcohol was cheap and the consumption of alcohol was a popular past time for many of the people in the United States at the time. With the concerns many women and other reform groups had, the vow to abstain from alcohol consumption became a reality for many people. This vow formed a part of the Temperance Movement, and the main goal of the movement created a revolution in the country. However, many historians blamed the economic and social problems in the society during the period, on excess drinking of alcohol. Berk (n.p), points out that much of the Temperance and Prohibition era was founded on a religious fervor, and paved the way for the religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening. The Awakening too the nation by forceful surprise as the society was not ready for the revolutions in the society. Although critics ridiculed the fundamentalists' position on the upcoming millennium and the views on the Bible, Christian fundamentalists held onto their beliefs about the anti-drinking campaign. These Christians believed that they could make the much needed changes to the problem of drinking.
The Second Great Awakening referred to the religious revival movement that existed in the early nineteenth century in America. The period expressed the theology that people can be saved by revivalism. Millions of new members joined the movement during the time, and resulted in the enrolment of millions of new members in the group. With the increase in the numbers, this led to the creation and development of a number of new religious denominations. A number of those converted during the Awakening welcomed the new millennial era. In addition, the Second Great Awakening formed the foundations for the organization of many reform movements that arose in order to cure the evils that exist in the society before the Rebirth of Jesus Christ.
The Second Great Awakening motivated these movements, as religion played a tremendous role in the activities of these individuals. The religious ministers of the Second Great Awakening sermonized in a lively and emotional way that appealed to the heart and the mind. These dominant religious experiences happened in churches, tents and open-air meetings and the Christians referred to the meetings as "revivals." In essence, the Second Great Awakening motivated individuals to make changes that would make the world better. In the interim, a wide range of transformational movements developed in an effort to improve the various aspects of the society including fashion, diet, care for the mentally ill, world peace, the treatment of prisoners, women’s rights, and the end to slavery. Many reformers believed in abstaining from alcohol. It was during their early involvement with other temperance societies, that they joined forces with the other reformers to try to find ways to improve on the other areas in the society.
The level of alcohol consumption in the 1800s was high, and became a cause for concern as many hardworking people drank while they worked. In some parts of the society, it was the custom to compensate workers with alcohol and money. Alcohol became an integral part of the various types of social events in the 1800s because people believed that consuming alcohol intensifies the enjoyment of the moment. Individuals at wedding ceremonies, an election victory or any other social setting consumed alcohol for pleasure. It was quite easy to gain access to these alcoholic beverages because there were only a few drinks that did not have alcohol in its contents. Many people in the society at the time argued that it was healthier to consume alcoholic beverages than water, as the water supply was frequently contaminated.
The need to manage alcohol consumption was always a priority of humanity throughout history, because the disruptions to the tranquility of the society were often disrupted by the intoxicated individuals. In addition, families faced problems because of the males finding more time to go to the saloon and drink than to stay home, and build the relationships in the homes. A number of countries had groups of organized temperance movement followers who all had the same goal of wiping alcohol consumption from the lives of the members in the society. These countries include Canada, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Britain, as the issues with the excessive consumption of alcohol was not limited to the people in the United States alone. Although the other countries had their movements to limit the consumption of alcohol usage, the American temperance movement is still seen as the most extensive transformation movement of the nineteenth century.
Conversely, the temperance movement was “active and influential in the United States since at least the 1830s” (Progressive Era, n.d.). However, alcohol use was linked to social issues such as insanity, poverty, and temperance and as such they were linked to other reform movements such as the rights of women, the education of women, and the righteousness of the religious organizations were revived during the Second Great Awakening. In addition, the movement brought on a mass revival of the American society. The unity of the Reformers from every aspect of the society came forward to support the women in the society as they fought for changes in the consumption of alcohol and the end to slavery. The strength of the women in the society became clear as most of the Temperance reformers were women and religious leaders.
The development of the temperance movement was a result of the changes in the society between the new American settlers and the post-Revolutionary War citizens. It is clear to historians and those who are interested in the Temperance Movement that during the colonial era in the United States, alcoholic beverages were consumed by a large number of people in the society. The women in the society at the time became overly concerned by the amount of alcohol that men consumed on a daily basis, and as such they redoubled their efforts to rid the society of the problem with alcohol. It reached to the point where alcohol became the main form of liquid nourishment. However, the extensive consumption of alcohol failed to create a temperance movement during the colonial period as drinking was intertwined with almost every event that existed in the society. Berk (n.p) notes that the Prohibition gave political support and authenticity for the religious revivals of the early twentieth century.
The Temperance Movement started out as an effort to solve the rising problem of alcohol consumption in the society. At the start of the early 1800s, the movement attempted to curtail the drinking habits of the people. However, by the 1820s, the Temperance Movement began its mission to campaign for the entire abstinence of all alcoholic beverages. The movement was significant in passing laws that banned the sale of liquor in many states across America. Those citizens, who took the pledge to abstain from consuming alcohol, joined the "Cold Water Army".
In addition, the movement was important to the ideas of individuals making personal choices about their lives, and being responsible for their actions. Many people took the pledge to improve their overall being so that the ultimate innate good would prevail. Temperance also included one of the most important historical tendencies of the nineteenth century, and that was the rise of power and the influence of the individuals in the world of philosophy, politics, and economics. These influences the 1800s, brought changes to the laws relating to voting, as it allowed all free white males the opportunity to vote irrespective of their material wealth. At the same time, Unitarianism and Transcendentalism placed more sincere emphasis on the individuals and their thoughts and views, rather than on religious beliefs and doctrine.
The reformers fought hard for the changes in the way the society operated and ultimately, it led to the Civil War. The two reform movements made many changes in politics, religion, and the structure of the family. The movement presented the negative shortcomings to the society which many believed to be good, and was important to the approval of the eighteenth amendment. Firstly, the advocates for the Temperance movement looked at the changes in the consumption of alcohol however; it later sought a complete avoidance of distilled liquors. The movement was united in its efforts as men and women were involved in temperance all over the United States. Women finally had the power to speak on issues affecting their lives. These women movements happened at the entrance to the bars, pharmacies, and any other place which sold alcoholic beverages.
The main tactic included the singing of prayers, the reading of psalms, and efforts to persuade everyone to avoid consuming alcohol. Francis Elizabeth Willard was among the most importance temperance female leaders. Her first insight into alcohol consumption stemmed from the fact that her father was total against alcohol consumption. Nugent (n.p) argues that the different outcomes of the temperance movement were based on a combination of the different levels of inner consistency and the arrangement of the political showground that existed within the society. Mattingly (n.p), notes that the Temperance women symbolize different attitudes. They wanted to make changes to the laws as it relates to the governance of alcohol. They based their beliefs on the premise that the issues of temperance and rights of the woman were similar. Many women clearly believed that their efforts to establish the concepts of woman's rights were directly linked to the problem of temperance. On the other hand, there were those women whose intentions were not as clear as those who advocated for the ban on alcohol. In essence the women's temperance ideologies are intricate, but the purpose was meaningful.
The period of the 1830s brought on the temperance changes in the Temperance movement. The advocates started to change their endeavor from ethical “suasion to more coercive methods”. The early lawful efforts made by the temperance activists were created to represent their efforts against alcohol consumption. In many states, they adopted the “no-license laws” in an effort to send a strong ethical and moral meaning to the members in the constituent. The message was clear - the sale of liquor was not reputable job anymore. In spite of of the law's intentions, alcohol became scarce in these states. As a result, the banned sales brought on a national ban during 1920s and later the Maine Law in 1851 which banned the processing of liquor and the restriction of its sales.
In conclusion, the Temperance Movement sought to limit alcoholism, prostitution, crime and poverty in the United States government; however the mission failed as the movement led to the birth of organized crime and violence. Nevertheless, the movement succeeded in giving women the chance to show the fact that they were competent in making sound decisions about the society in which they lived. While the major objectives of the movement failed, Temperance will go down in history as the period that forced Americans to look at the harmful effects of alcohol its users and on the members of the society.
Reference
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