What was the temperance movement?

Response

Temperance, in essence, is about moderation and self-control. The temperance movement, also known as the prohibition movement, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries advocated for abstaining from alcohol. This movement played a significant role in the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1919, marking the beginning of the Prohibition era. Even though the amendment was later repealed in 1933, the impact of the temperance movement highlighted the considerable influence held by churches and Christian groups during that period.

The temperance movement emerged from the Second Great Awakening, which heightened Christian interest in using politics to enact social change. Many Christians viewed alcoholism as a root cause of various issues such as illness, poverty, and domestic abuse. They justified their stance on temperance and total abstinence by referencing Bible verses that condemn drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1;Proverbs 23:20,29-30;Ephesians 5:18;Galatians 5:19-21).

While men were part of temperance societies, the majority of supporters were women, many of whom were wives and mothers profoundly affected by the alcohol abuse of the men in their lives. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was a prominent organization within the temperance movement and remains active today. Numerous influential women participated in or were linked to the temperance cause, including suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Frances Willard, as well as hymnwriter Fanny Crosby. Generally, women advocated for their cause through peaceful means, although some, like Carrie A. Nation, resorted to more aggressive actions, such as entering bars to condemn alcohol and destroying bar fixtures with a hatchet. Other groups involved in the temperance movement included the American Temperance Society.

y, founded by Presbyterian ministers; the Anti-Saloon League, which was supported by multiple Protestant denominations; and the Daughters of Temperance. Members of such societies pledged themselves not to use, buy, or sell alcoholic beverages; to advocate temperance in their communities; and to work to strengthen prohibition laws.

The temperance movement was not limited to the United States or to Christians, but churches were key supporters. Whether Christians today choose teetotalism or use alcohol in moderation, they can appreciate the efforts of Christians in years gone by to unite around a moral issue and bring about widespread social reform.