Demon RumDemon Rum

The Anti-liquor movement in The Anti-liquor movement in AmericaAmerica

Colonial AmericaColonial America

Alcohol was very important to the colonists. A Alcohol was very important to the colonists. A brewery was among the first major buildings brewery was among the first major buildings erected in Plymouth colony. Taverns like the erected in Plymouth colony. Taverns like the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg Virginia (above) Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg Virginia (above) were the center of many public gatherings.were the center of many public gatherings.

Anti-alcohol in early Anti-alcohol in early settlementssettlements

Increase Mather, Puritan Increase Mather, Puritan divine, president of Harvard, divine, president of Harvard, fought against the opening of fought against the opening of taverns on Sabbath days and taverns on Sabbath days and denounced excess – “the denounced excess – “the wine is from God, but the wine is from God, but the drunkenness is from the drunkenness is from the Devil.”Devil.”

Alcohol and workAlcohol and work

IIPuritans had already Puritans had already compromised by compromised by allowing fishermen to allowing fishermen to work on Sundays (fish work on Sundays (fish being a major export, being a major export, with lumber and furs).with lumber and furs).

Fishermen also protested the lack of alcohol on Fishermen also protested the lack of alcohol on Sundays and frequently ignored the rules by Sundays and frequently ignored the rules by buying it in illegal “grog shops.”buying it in illegal “grog shops.”

Republicanism and drinkRepublicanism and drink

Benjamin Rush, a major Benjamin Rush, a major contributor to medicine in contributor to medicine in colonial America, argued that colonial America, argued that alcohol and free government alcohol and free government could not mix: “our country will could not mix: “our country will soon be governed by men soon be governed by men chosen by intemperate and chosen by intemperate and corrupted voters,” unless steps corrupted voters,” unless steps were taken to control alcohol were taken to control alcohol sales.sales.

Rush also wrote Rush also wrote Observations on Observations on Diseases of the Diseases of the Mind, Mind, the first in-the first in-depth American depth American look at mental look at mental illness.illness.

Extent of alcohol useExtent of alcohol use--In the 1820s, temperance groups in Albany NY --In the 1820s, temperance groups in Albany NY estimated that of the 20,000 population, there were estimated that of the 20,000 population, there were 4000 regular drinkers, 500 “habitual drunkards” and 4000 regular drinkers, 500 “habitual drunkards” and 200,000 gallons of liquor consumed at a cost of 200,000 gallons of liquor consumed at a cost of $100,000.$100,000.--The national consumption estimate for 1820 was 7 ½ --The national consumption estimate for 1820 was 7 ½ gallons of liquor for every man, woman and child.gallons of liquor for every man, woman and child.--An 1833 survey of those held in Auburn prison showed --An 1833 survey of those held in Auburn prison showed that only 19 of the 617 inmates had never drank, that that only 19 of the 617 inmates had never drank, that 200 were “grossly intemperate” (i.e. addicted to 200 were “grossly intemperate” (i.e. addicted to alcohol) and 250 more were “regularly intemperate” to alcohol) and 250 more were “regularly intemperate” to the point of drinking at least a quart every day.the point of drinking at least a quart every day.

Liquor and Native Liquor and Native AmericansAmericans

Sales of liquor to Indians was also Sales of liquor to Indians was also condemned, partly for moral reasons, but condemned, partly for moral reasons, but also because Americans believed that it also because Americans believed that it promoted violence against settlers.promoted violence against settlers.

Liquor as big Liquor as big businessbusiness

Rural folk often distilled whiskey Rural folk often distilled whiskey from grain and used it to barter for from grain and used it to barter for goods at local stores. In the goods at local stores. In the 1820s, Johns Hopkins, a clerk in a 1820s, Johns Hopkins, a clerk in a Quaker-owned store, opened his Quaker-owned store, opened his own business, trading flour and own business, trading flour and cloth for rural whiskey, then selling cloth for rural whiskey, then selling the whiskey in larger towns and the whiskey in larger towns and cities as “Hopkins Best.” Expelled cities as “Hopkins Best.” Expelled from the Quakers because of his from the Quakers because of his trade, he made several generous trade, he made several generous donations to be reinstated. Johns donations to be reinstated. Johns Hopkins University was built with Hopkins University was built with $8 million of his fortune.$8 million of his fortune.

Alcohol and productivityAlcohol and productivity

II

Early inquiries into the causes of unemployment, Early inquiries into the causes of unemployment, absenteeism and poverty focused on alcohol. The 1817 absenteeism and poverty focused on alcohol. The 1817 report for Philadelphia’s “Public Economy” concluded report for Philadelphia’s “Public Economy” concluded that society must “remove intemperance” (alcoholism) that society must “remove intemperance” (alcoholism) in order to promote industry, saving, and productivity.in order to promote industry, saving, and productivity.

Temperance in song and Temperance in song and printprint

By the late 1820s, By the late 1820s, temperance groups were temperance groups were holding public meetings and holding public meetings and distributing prohibition distributing prohibition pamphlets and songs.pamphlets and songs.

Opposition to Opposition to temperancetemperance

II

Saloon owners, liquor distributors, and other Saloon owners, liquor distributors, and other organizations that opposed the temperance organizations that opposed the temperance movement, published their own songs movement, published their own songs suggesting that the “prudes” also enjoyed a suggesting that the “prudes” also enjoyed a drink from time to time.drink from time to time.

Religious OppositionReligious Opposition

John Henry Hopkins, bishop of John Henry Hopkins, bishop of the Episcopal Church (and no the Episcopal Church (and no relation to Johns Hopkins), led a relation to Johns Hopkins), led a movement that condemned the movement that condemned the temperance movement as being temperance movement as being in disagreement with the in disagreement with the Gospels. Gospels. Hopkins also implied that the Hopkins also implied that the temperance leaders acted “too temperance leaders acted “too superior” to be “true followers superior” to be “true followers of Christ.” This charge of of Christ.” This charge of reformist snobbery would be reformist snobbery would be repeated.repeated.

Temperance NationwideTemperance NationwideBy 1835, the American Temperance had over a million members By 1835, the American Temperance had over a million members (who signed an abstinence pledge), with 5000 local branches, (who signed an abstinence pledge), with 5000 local branches, and influence in most states. Progress lagged in the South, and influence in most states. Progress lagged in the South, where only 15,000 people had signed the abstinence pledge.where only 15,000 people had signed the abstinence pledge.

““Ultra-ism” emerged in the 1840s, with Temperance members Ultra-ism” emerged in the 1840s, with Temperance members going beyond the original goals (limited hours for saloons, going beyond the original goals (limited hours for saloons, prohibition of many hard, distilled liquors) and now advocated prohibition of many hard, distilled liquors) and now advocated total prohibition (of all fermented drinks like beer and wines, in total prohibition (of all fermented drinks like beer and wines, in addition to hard liquors), and government suppression of all addition to hard liquors), and government suppression of all forms of alcohol. This cost the movement the support of many forms of alcohol. This cost the movement the support of many moderates. In the words of one state legislator, the ultras had moderates. In the words of one state legislator, the ultras had “quit preaching and started meddling” into the rights of the “quit preaching and started meddling” into the rights of the individual.individual.

One of the temperance movement’s long-term effects was to One of the temperance movement’s long-term effects was to bring about an increase in the call for votes for women.bring about an increase in the call for votes for women.

Movement’s declineMovement’s decline

The Civil War (1861-65) seriously harmed the The Civil War (1861-65) seriously harmed the temperance movement. The destruction of the temperance movement. The destruction of the war, coupled with the widespread belief that war, coupled with the widespread belief that “radical” anti-slavery had brought about the “radical” anti-slavery had brought about the conflict, resulted in a distaste for “reform conflict, resulted in a distaste for “reform movements.”movements.”

Renewal of the movementRenewal of the movement

In the 1880s, chapters of the Women’s In the 1880s, chapters of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) revived the anti-liquor crusade.revived the anti-liquor crusade.

ExtremistsExtremists

Carrie Nation became the best known of the new Carrie Nation became the best known of the new champions for prohibition. Her method, using a champions for prohibition. Her method, using a hatchet to break up saloons, made for great hatchet to break up saloons, made for great press, but the WCTU was embarrassed by her press, but the WCTU was embarrassed by her militant actions.militant actions.

Nation died in Kansas in 1911. Nation died in Kansas in 1911. Critics put out the rumor that she Critics put out the rumor that she had died in an asylum, in a had died in an asylum, in a “completely deranged. state”“completely deranged. state”

National press attentionNational press attention

TT

Mark Twain, no stranger to drink, attacked Mark Twain, no stranger to drink, attacked Carrie Nation’s tactics in newspaper essays.Carrie Nation’s tactics in newspaper essays.

The “forerunner of The “forerunner of civilization”civilization”

Liquor was often an important part of an settlement’s Liquor was often an important part of an settlement’s early economy. Moorhead had over 40 saloons by 1900 early economy. Moorhead had over 40 saloons by 1900 and the Clay County attorney referred to whisky as the and the Clay County attorney referred to whisky as the “forerunner of civilization.”“forerunner of civilization.”

Booze and voting rightsBooze and voting rights

In Dakota Territory (and In Dakota Territory (and North Dakota) Elizabeth North Dakota) Elizabeth Preston Anderson led a fight Preston Anderson led a fight to suppress liquor for 40 to suppress liquor for 40 years. She also lobbied the years. She also lobbied the state legislature for votes for state legislature for votes for women, but North Dakota women, but North Dakota rejected it until the U.S. rejected it until the U.S. Constitution granted the Constitution granted the right to vote in 1920.right to vote in 1920.

National prohibitionNational prohibition

1920 also ushered in the Volsted Act and 1920 also ushered in the Volsted Act and National Prohibition – a national disasterNational Prohibition – a national disaster