Final answer:
The temperance movement was crucial in advancing the women's rights movement, offering women a socially acceptable platform to partake in public advocacy, which eventually led to their fight for suffrage. It arose due to urbanization and immigration, underscoring societal needs for moral reform enacted through legislation like the 18th amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperance movement was indeed a significant influence on the advancement of the women's rights movement, especially around the time of World War I. It provided a platform for women to engage in public life and advocate for their right to vote. Women's participation in the temperance movement was socially acceptable and was seen as part of their moral role in society. The Women's Christian Temperance Union became a powerful force in lobbying for laws to restrict alcohol and thereby reducing the social ills associated with its consumption.
The temperance movement emerged in response to societal changes such as increasing urbanization and immigration. It was these new social conditions that partially fueled the establishment of the American Temperance Society in 1826. As cities grew and the number of immigrants rose, concerns about moral standards and social order increased. The temperance movement addressed these concerns by campaigning to reduce the use of alcoholic beverages, which were associated with various social problems including violence, economic instability, and corruption.
Over time, the movement realized the power of suffrage as a means to achieve reform. While the main objective initially may not have been votes for women, the connection between enfranchisement and policy change became evident. Their involvement in temperance allowed women to realize the importance of having a voice in the democratic process to enact desired changes, which included the eventual ratification of the 18th amendment establishing prohibition.