The Temperance Movement (book by John S. McCay)

"The Temperance Movement" by John S. McCay explores the social campaign from the 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at reducing or stopping the consumption of alcohol. It highlights how activists believed alcohol was responsible for social problems like crime, family breakdowns, and health issues. The movement involved lobbying for laws such as prohibition, promoting moral and health education, and encouraging personal restraint. McCay contextualizes these efforts within broader cultural, political, and economic changes, illustrating how the movement shaped public policy and societal attitudes towards alcohol in periods leading up to the national Prohibition era in the United States.