The Temperance Movement

The Temperance Movement was a social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Advocates believed that alcohol was a major cause of social issues, including crime, poverty, and family problems. The movement gained momentum in the United States, leading to the establishment of organizations that promoted abstinence from alcohol. It culminated in the prohibition era (1920-1933), when the manufacture and sale of alcohol were banned. Although prohibition ended, the movement influenced later public health efforts and continues to have an impact on attitudes toward alcohol use today.