Category: History

Dominion Alliance: Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic.

Dominion Alliance

The US had the Anti-Saloon League. And Canada its Dominion Alliance. To be more specific, the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic. The temperance movement began in Canada in the early nineteenth century. It was largely local. And it began in the eastern provinces. The movement began slowly. But it gradually …

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Women and Temperance: Essential for Establishing Prohibition

women and temperance

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).                                 OVERVIEW I.    Martha Washingtonians II.   Daughters of Temperance III.  Woman’s New …

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Martha Washingtonians: Ladies’ Temperance Benevolent Society

Martha Washingtonians

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. …

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The Sheppard Bone-Dry Act: DC Prohibition Act

New Jersey alcohol laws

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 …

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Morris Sheppard and Prohibition: “The Driest of the Dry”

Morris Sheppard and prohibition

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 …

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Independent Order of Good Samaritans & Daughters of Samaria

Order of Good Samaritans

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 …

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Daughters of Temperance & Original Daughters of Temperance

Susan B. Anthony

The Daughters of Temperance was formed as a result of the Sons of Temperance. But 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 …

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Alcohol Rations in US Military History (Early History)

alcohol rations

Alcohol rations in US military. They have a long history in both the army and the navy. 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 …

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The Anti-Canteen Law (It May not be What You Think)

temperance organizations

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 …

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