Temperance

American men yearly consumption at the time of the Revolution has been estimated at the equivalent of three-and-a-half gallons of pure, two-hundred proof alcohol for each person. After 1790 American men began to drink even more. By the late 1820s imbibing had risen to an all-time high of almost four gallons person. We believe that Temperance is a number one priority to make an American law. One is that of social order. Many reformers fear that drunkenness—particularly the increasing prevalence of binge drinking—is a threat to law abiding society and economic prosperity. How could men act as responsible workers and vote as responsible citizens if they were insensible with drink? Another cornerstone of temperance reform is evangelical religion. Religiously motivated temperance advocates came to see drinking as a sin—a way of giving in to the animal or depraved self that is incompatible with Christian morals, self-control and spiritual awakening. Our third temperance reasoning is focused on damage to families. Looking at family violence, reformers reckoned the cost to American wives, mothers and children of heavy drinking by their husbands and fathers. And our fourth point of view is medical, as more health-minded reformers popularize a radically new way of looking at alcohol. Americans have traditionally considered strong drink to be healthy and fortifying; after 1810, many physicians and writers on health are telling their patients and readers that alcohol is actually a poison.

American men yearly consumption at the time of the Revolution has been estimated at the equivalent of three-and-a-half gallons of pure, two-hundred proof alcohol for each person. After 1790 American men began to drink even more. By the late 1820s imbibing had risen to an all-time high of almost four gallons person. We believe that Temperance is a number one priority to make an American law. One is that of social order. Many reformers fear that drunkenness—particularly the increasing prevalence of binge drinking—is a threat to law abiding society and economic prosperity. How could men act as responsible workers and vote as responsible citizens if they were insensible with drink? Another cornerstone of temperance reform is evangelical religion. Religiously motivated temperance advocates came to see drinking as a sin—a way of giving in to the animal or depraved self that is incompatible with Christian morals, self-control and spiritual awakening. Our third temperance reasoning is focused on damage to families. Looking at family violence, reformers reckoned the cost to American wives, mothers and children of heavy drinking by their husbands and fathers. And our fourth point of view is medical, as more health-minded reformers popularize a radically new way of looking at alcohol. Americans have traditionally considered strong drink to be healthy and fortifying; after 1810, many physicians and writers on health are telling their patients and readers that alcohol

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