American+Temperence

Emma, Elenita, Raina, Cristina**
 * American Temperance

Whatever photocopies Cristina gave [Raina] by __Milton A. Maxwell__ (Pg 411-412) -in 1840 the prevailing opinion was that nothing could be done to rehabilitate the drunkard -until this point the temperance movement was all about keeping the nonalcoholic from becoming alcoholic Justin Edwards: “keep the temperate people temperate; the drunkards will soon die, and the land be free.” (1822) Pg 412 -WTS -Thursday april 12 1840 -six friends go to chase’s tavern in balitmore as like every evening -william Mitchell, John Hoss David Anderson, George Steers, James McCurley, Archibald Campbell -proposed to go hear Matthew Hale Smith a visiting temperance preacher -Sunday april 5 the group decides to quit drinking and organize a total abstinence society -William Mitchell appointed president Pg 413 -Pledge: “we…desirous of forming a society for our mutual benefit…guard against a practice…which is injurious to our health, standing and families…do pledge…that we will not drink…” -continued to meet at chase’s tavern-moved to a home-then to a carpenters shop-then a rented hall

__Temperance Recollections__ American temperance union: Pg. 35 -May 24 1833 first national temperance convention held in Philadelphia Pg.36 -Convention committee appointed to organize a “general temperance union” that would include all the temperance groups Pg. 37 -Consisted of officers of American temperance society, 23 state societies and over 7,000 smaller associations -three years later name was changed to “American temperance union”

__The Temperance Movement__ Washington temperance society p.435-36 -the author of this book looks down on them -says it was created by inebriated people so not really valid -only 150000 out of 600000 stuck with pledge

These are notes from the books I got: __The Alcoholic Rep__ P.188 Joseph R. Gusfield said that prohibition originally startd because the middle class was “threatened by new, powerful industrtialists” (Wheel of Respecatbility?) p. 190 Drinking hurts society p.198 American Tmeperance Union- 1832-1843 Chapter Demon Rum: Good supplement to Wheel of Respectability Does someone want to be in charge of handling that?

__The Spirits Of America__ P. 67-68 Abraham Lincoln supporter of Washingtonians; Story is that 6 men came out of a tavern planned to make fun of the temperance meeting instead decied to form own society; In 1842 Lincoln gave a speech to Washingtonians at Springfield—put quote here; told them they should have a less radical position Note: Info mostly on Abraham Lincoln’s role

__Drinking in America__ p.74 John b. gough and John Hawkins were among the many who signed the total abstinince pledge

I tryed doing this stuff before class notes--it will be better if we add the class notes+ longer. If you want to play with the image go ahead, its not very good:

This is the wheel of Respectability. The temperance movement was largely based not on medical reasons that alcohol was somehow bad for you but based on how honorable it is to drink alcohol. The respectable didn’t drink--it wasn’t respectable. And so they tried to make the society better by trying to abolish drink all together. Washington Temperance Society was supposed to help respectable people not drink alcohol--somewhat like modern alcoholics anonymous. The Temperance movement eventually grew to the point where alcohol was prohibited. The temperance movement has for the most part died down.

Graph of Consumation of Alcohol:

Notes from Class: -Average of 2 gallons of pure alcohol a year; 1820-1830: 7.1 gallons of pure alcohol a year -Alcohol causes many social problems. Respectable care b/c not restraining elemental impulses (even less when drunk). Very problematic b/c adult men become alcoholics instead of making money for wife and children. They also beat their families -Lyman Beecher is one of the first to realize these problems. He publishes a book entitled “6 sermons.” One of the unions has to do with sinfulness of drinking any alcohol even in moderation. Leads to idea of complete abstinence. -Drinking alcohol anti-republican: own interests above community. Sparks movement, American Temperance Union. Made up of respectable proto aristocratic elites. Sort of like D.A.R.E program—Scary stats, dry science, talks about why alcohol is bad for you. Enemy is alcoholics, no sympathy for them b/c no restraint for elemental impulses and they threatened social order. Rough disrupt axis of order -archetypical top-down reform movement, solution: Don’t Drink ever anywhere -April 1840, working man from Baltimore goes to one of these meetings then goes to chases tavern to meet his five buddies. Make a pact together to no longer drink (Sort of like Alcoholics Anonymous). More of the friends join the pact. Ruins tavern business goes to local churches. Every man brings a man. –called Washington Temperance Society becomes much more successful than the American Temperance Union -The problem is not the drunk; the drunk is the victim of grog sellers-rich people that are rich from selling alcohol who take advantage of peoples weakness-unjust, immoral. Proto-arist. Drunks, rough resp. drunks absolutely redeemable. -John H.W. Hawkins stumbled into Wash. Temp meeting who is a baker’s assistant b/c intermittent alcoholic. “Found all my old companions + 6 founders” signed a pledge, “it was a great battle” never frank again. Preaches temperance for rest of his life becomes nationally known. -Bottom down reform.