Temperance movement

The temperance movement was a massive social crusade. Its primary goal was to promote temperance or total abstinence from alcohol. Many participants advocated for teetotalism, which is the complete refusal to consume any alcoholic beverages. Leaders of the movement focused on the negative impacts of alcohol. They argued that intoxication harmed physical health and personal character. They also believed it destroyed family lives and social stability.

The movement functioned through education and legal pressure. Reformers used several methods to spread their message. They distributed pamphlets and organized public meetings to discuss the dangers of alcohol. Some groups issued temperance almanacs containing information on farming and social issues. Others encouraged people to sign formal pledges of abstinence. Beyond education, the movement demanded new laws to regulate or ban alcohol entirely. This push for legal control is known as prohibition.

In the 1700s, alcohol was deeply integrated into colonial life. In North America, it served as a beverage, a medicine, and a trade commodity. Hard cider was the most common alcoholic drink in the American colonies. In 1767, an average New England family consumed about seven barrels of hard cider annually. This amount equals roughly 35 gallons of cider per person each year. Settlers even had to plant apple orchards to secure land titles. For example, the Ohio Company required fifty apple trees for a land grant.

Resistance to alcohol appeared in different ways across cultures. In the 18th century, Native American leaders fought to protect their communities. Leaders like King Hagler, Little Turtle, and Peter Chartier resisted trading for rum and brandy. They saw these spirits as destructive to their cultures. By 1737, Native American activists were already campaigning for laws to restrict alcohol sales. In Great Britain, the middle classes also began criticizing widespread drunkenness. They desired more social order as cities grew during the Industrial Revolution.

The movement gained national momentum in the United States during the 1820s. This growth was fueled by the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival. This era encouraged people to work toward creating a perfect society. The American Temperance Society (ATS) was founded in Boston in 1820. It grew incredibly fast within just twelve years. By 1832, the ATS claimed over 8,000 local groups and 1,250,000 members. Many reformers were driven by religious convictions. For instance, Charles Grandison Finney taught that the human body was a "temple of God."

Medical and moral arguments also shaped the movement's logic. In the 1790s, physician Benjamin Rush described excessive drinking as a disease-like syndrome. He noted that it caused moral and physical decay. Rush saw a strong link between drunkenness and crime, suicide, and disease. Modern science supports many of these observations regarding health. Research shows a causal relationship between alcohol and over 60 types of diseases and injuries. Alcohol is estimated to contribute to 20% to 30% of cases involving liver cancer and cirrhosis. It is also linked to various accidents and other serious health issues.

The movement eventually achieved significant political victories worldwide. It was particularly influential in English-speaking and Scandinavian Protestant nations. These efforts led to periods of national prohibition in several countries. Canada implemented prohibition from 1918 to 1920. The United States enforced national prohibition from 1920 to 1933. Other nations followed similar paths, such as Norway and Finland. Norway restricted spirits from 1919 to 1926, while Finland held bans from 1919 to 1932. Even some provinces in India have maintained restrictions since 1948.