The Temperance Movement (1890-1920)

Question 1

Reasons for Prohibition

Answer 1

• An issue intertwined with the impact of immigration on society
• Showed the widening gap between the cities and rural areas
• Influential pressure groups such as the WCTU, the Anti-Saloon League and the Prohibition Party gained support and began to rise
• Women’s organisations argued there was a clear link between alcohol consumption and domestic abuse
• Industrialists, e.g. Henry Ford, argued that alcohol reduced the efficiency of workers due to hangovers, etc
• Religious Christians saw alcohol as the root of sin and evil

Question 2

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

Answer 2

• Carrie Nations, member of the WCTU became prominently known on a national scale
• Widely known as the ‘Kansas Bar Boom Smasher’
• Believed in direct action against alcohol, first husband was an alcoholic
• Also motivated by her devout Protestant beliefs
• Smashed up a bar with a hail large stones
• Frequently arrested
• Denounced as an extremist
• Did lots to publicise the aims of the WCTU

Question 3

The Anti-Saloon League

Answer 3

• Founded in Ohio, 1893
• Its leader, Wayne Wheeler, was highly effective in lobbying the 2 main parties for support, known as ‘Wheelerism’
• Demonstrated in 1906, A-S League helped defeat Wayne the ‘Wet’ Governor of Ohio when he stood for re-election

Question 4

Wet & Dry States

Answer 4

• Wet States: states where alcohol was legal before Prohibition
• Dry States: states where alcohol was banned before Prohibition
• 26 states became ‘dry states’ with the passing of laws limiting the sale of alcohol
• 1917 there was 2/3 majority of Drys in the House of Senate and Representatives

Question 5

Prohibition & WW1

Answer 5

• The war had a significant impact on the long-running fight for Prohibition
• America’s participation in WW1 encouraged further support, many brewers were of German origin, Prohibition seen as patriotic
• Beer consumption was now seen as unpatriotic and betrayal to the US
• Beer nicknamed ‘Kaiser’s Brew’
• President Wilson and many of his political supporters helped Prohibitionists to win backers in Congress due them being Progressives
• 1918: President Wilson banned beer production until the war ended

Question 6

The Eighteenth Amendment

Answer 6

• Prohibited the production, transportation, or sale of alcoholic beverages in the US
• Came into legal effect in January 1920
• Volstead Act passed at the same time to legislate methods to enforce Prohibition
• Appeared to be mass political and public support for Prohibition
• Also strong currents of opposition running against Prohibition