Final answer:
Temperance crusaders were concerned with the negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption on society, including poverty, crime, and family life, spurred by the social changes of increased urbanization and immigration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperance crusaders were concerned about the profound issues related to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Originating during an era of significant social change due to increased urbanization and immigration, the temperance movement was largely driven by the American middle class and was influenced by the religious fervor of the Second Great Awakening.
This movement sought to address a variety of societal problems attributed to drinking, such as poverty, street crime, worker absenteeism, workplace accidents, and domestic violence. In addition, alcohol was seen to undermine workplace efficiency and contributed to public corruption, particularly in the context of saloons where much socialization and job information exchange occurred.
Women played a crucial role in this crusade, leading organizations such as the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which advocated for laws to restrict the availability of alcohol and raised awareness about its associated societal damages. The culmination of these efforts eventually contributed to the passage of the 18th Amendment and the era of Prohibition, which sought to ban alcohol nationwide.