In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States was in the midst of a social movement aimed at eliminating alcohol consumption. One of the major forces behind this movement was the Scientific Temperance Federation (STF), an organization that advocated for scientific research to prove the harmful effects of alcohol and promoted education to discourage its use.
The Prohibition Party was founded in 1869 in the United States with the aim of advocating for the prohibition of the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The party has a long and storied history, with peaks and valleys of popularity throughout its existence.
The American Tract Society (ATS) was a non-denominational organization founded in 1825 with the purpose of publishing and distributing Christian literature. The organization was established in New York City by a group of Protestant ministers who wanted to promote evangelical Christianity and spread religious literature to a wider audience. The ATS published a variety of literature, including tracts, pamphlets, and books, on a range of religious and moral topics.
The Anti-Saloon League (ASL) was one of the most influential and successful social reform movements in American history. The organization, which was formed in 1893, sought to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in the United States. It achieved its goal with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was a women’s organization formed in the United States in the late 19th century. It was founded in 1874 by Annie Wittenmyer and Frances Willard and aimed to promote temperance, the idea of abstaining from alcohol consumption, and other social reforms.
The Prohibition era saw the rise of several notable names. On the pro-prohibition side, names like Wayne Wheeler, Carrie Nation, and Billy Sunday gained fame for their efforts to outlaw alcohol. Meanwhile, on the anti-prohibition side, figures like Al Capone, Meyer Lansky and George Remus became infamous for their involvement in bootlegging and organized crime.
Temperance was a social movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries that advocated for the reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption. It was a response to the widespread alcohol abuse and its negative social consequences, including family violence, poverty, and illness. The temperance movement was not only a moral campaign but also a political one.