Reforming Society - Temperance; American Temperance Society; Ratification of the 18th Amendment (feb 13, 1826 – jan 16, 1919)

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The over consumption of hard liquor amongst Americans (around 5 gallons of hard liquor per person) had led to reformers to fix this rising issue by targeting alcohol as the cause of social ills. The American Temperance Society was founded by Protestant ministers on February 13, 1826 in order to persuade drinkers to pledge to take a total abstinence from drinking liquor (temperance). Supported by a group of Washungtonians, these recovering alcoholics acknowledged this disease and urged for a treatment to be created, which resulted in over a million members to be involved in various temperance societies. Foreign immigrants such as Germans and Irish were opposed to this movement, but their influence in state and city governments was futile. On June 2, 1851, Maine became the first state to prohibit the manufacturing and sale of liquor, and became the influence for 12 more states to follow suit. The movement would be overshadowed with talks of slavery, but would remain alive with strong support from the Women’s Temperance movement, which led for the 18th Amendment to be ratified on January 16, 1919.

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