Final answer:
The temperance movement sought to outlaw the consumption of alcohol, as it was seen as a source of social ills such as physical abuse, sickness, and reduced worker efficiency. It was strongly led by women and resulted in the establishment of prohibition through the 18th Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Temperance Movement
The statement that best describes the reason behind the temperance movement is that it sought to outlaw consumption of alcohol. This movement aimed at reducing the use of, or abstaining from, alcoholic beverages. The impetus for the movement was multifaceted, including the belief that alcohol led to various social problems, such as physical abuse, sickness, and worker inefficiency. Employers believed that alcohol consumption hurt worker efficiency, while political reformers saw saloons as breeding grounds for corruption. The movement was largely led by women, including organizations like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), which became a significant force in lobbying for laws to restrict alcohol and educating the public about the social ills associated with its consumption. The efforts of the temperance movement eventually led to the ratification of the 18th Amendment, which established prohibition.
Challenges such as increasing urbanization and immigration shaped the backdrop for the development of the temperance movement during the 1820s-1840s, as part of a broader range of antebellum reform efforts. Women's participation in the temperance movement, which was seen as more socially acceptable than other reform movements, was influenced by the "Cult of Domesticity" and was an outlet for their reforming impulses following the Second Great Awakening. Women and children were often viewed as the chief victims of alcohol consumption, as it led to financial instability and sometimes violence within families.