Question

Write a paragraph that summarizes the efforts of the temperance movement and explains the impact those efforts had on the changing American society. Make sure you include key leaders, organizations, events, and results in your paragraph.

Answer 1

The temperance movement aimed to reduce alcohol consumption and had a significant impact on American society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The temperance movement was a widespread reform movement in the 1820s-1840s that aimed to reduce alcohol consumption or abstain from it. It originated from the revivals of the Second Great Awakening, where religious reformers emphasized leading a clean life and helping sinning neighbors. The movement gained momentum due to increasing urbanization and immigration, which brought about unfamiliar social conditions and a perceived moral vacuum. Key leaders included the Washington Temperance Society, formed in 1840, and women who saw the movement as an outlet for their reforming impulses.

The temperance movement had a significant impact on American society. It had more than a million supporters who held rallies and distributed pamphlets to raise awareness about the negative effects of alcohol. While the efforts did slow down alcohol consumption, they did not completely stop it. However, many towns and counties became “dry” and enacted restrictions on alcohol. One notable legislative victory was the total ban on alcohol in Maine from 1851-1856.