Women and temperance were closely linked. The temperance movement relied heavily on their enthusiastic support. And they were essential to the establishment of National Prohibition (1920-1933). I. Martha Washingtonians One of the earliest temperance groups was the Martha Washingtonians. Officially, it was the Ladies’ Temperance Benevolent Society. Temperance activists formed it in 1841. Women who …
People tended to call the the Ladies’ Temperance Benevolent Society the Martha Washingtonians. It rolls off the tongue so much easier. Six temperance activists, not all women, formed the Martha Washingtonians in New York City. They did so on May 12, 1841. Although not all of the organizers were women, only women could be members. …
The Sheppard Bone-Dry Act was also called the DC Prohibition Act. Officially, it was this. “An Act to prevent the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors in the District of Columbia and for other purposes.” The “for other purposes” refers to exceptions, penalties, and other matters. It was sponsored by Sen. Morris Sheppard in early …
John Morris Sheppard and prohibition were very closely linked. Sheppard became an ardent advocate of banning alcohol beverage sales. And he did so fairly early in his political career. He was in Congress from 1901 until his death in 1941. Sheppard served first as a representative and then as a senator. He was a progressive …
Temperance activists formed the Independent Order of Good Samaritans in New York City in 1847. It admitted African-Americans to membership. Thus, it was the first fraternal group in the US “to recognize the humanity in man, no matter what his color.” The next year the Order admitted women. Then it became the Independent Order of …
The Daughters of Temperance was formed as a result of the Sons of Temperance. However, not as one might suspect. Read on to discover the real reason. Sons of Temperance As a young woman, Susan B. Anthony joined a temperance society. It was the Daughters Union. That was an auxiliary of the Sons of Temperance. In …
Alcohol rations in the both the army and the navy have a long history. Of course, they are based on English and European tradition. And alcohol rations have a long history there. For example, between 1655 and 1970, the British Navy issued a daily rum ration. It was a tot, or one-half pint I. Alcohol …
The army formed canteens or small restaurants during the 1880s. The canteens sold beer to soldiers. Its goal was to give an alternative to off-base saloons. Over time the temperance movement grew stronger. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) led the fight to remove the sale of alcohol from canteens Not “Anti-Canteen” The so-called anti-canteen …
It has been argued that prohibition was the result of a cultural war. That is, a vision for society. So was that a conservative or liberal movement?
Purley Baker was a leading temperance and Prohibition leader. He was born in Ohio in 1858 and died during National Prohibition (1920-1933) in 1924. Prohibition was part of the Progressive Movement. Anti-Saloon League Rev. Baker was an ordained Methodist minister. He became well-known for strongly opposing alcohol and saloons. Perhaps because of that fact, Howard …
