Final answer:
The temperance movement during the Progressive Era called for people to stop or reduce alcohol consumption, largely influenced by urbanization and immigration. It led to the Eighteenth Amendment and was supported by organizations such as the WCTU and the Anti-Saloon League.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperance Movement during the Progressive Era
During the Progressive Era, the temperance movement emerged, advocating that people stop, or moderate, their consumption of alcohol. This movement was a response to increasing urbanization and immigration which brought about new social conditions. Groups like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League were at the forefront of this campaign, with the movement eventually leading to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, instituting Prohibition.
Large numbers of immigrants, especially Germans, and increasing urbanization transformed the nation. Many in the emerging American middle class participated in the movement not only for religious reasons but also as a confirmation of their new social status. They sought to alleviate social ills and assert their moral standings by helping others lead 'clean' lives, free from the influence of alcohol.
By the 1900s, through persistent efforts including rallies and distributing pamphlets about the dangers of alcohol, the movement had achieved significant success. Local votes and statewide initiatives prompted by organizations like the WCTU and Anti-Saloon League succeeded in turning many communities 'dry'. The Prohibition movement was connected with the larger Progressive initiatives that aimed at improving societal ills and promoting public well-being.