Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
This thesis studies an important phase of American temperance
reform in the early nineteenth century. For twenty
two years preceding Civil War, temperance reforms attempted
to gain political and legal sanction for their crusade.
Such efforts resulted in varying degrees of success in
different states. In researching this thesis many books,
sermons, and journals from the period were used. These
have led the author to conclude that temperance reformers
successfully applied pressure tactics on politicians. They
also perceived the necessity of gaining lasting public
opinion formation to pass and sustain restrictive liquor
laws. Their inability to maintain such favorable public
opinion led to rapid decline in coercive temperance by
1860, bringing to an end the first stage in American legal
temperance.
reform in the early nineteenth century. For twenty
two years preceding Civil War, temperance reforms attempted
to gain political and legal sanction for their crusade.
Such efforts resulted in varying degrees of success in
different states. In researching this thesis many books,
sermons, and journals from the period were used. These
have led the author to conclude that temperance reformers
successfully applied pressure tactics on politicians. They
also perceived the necessity of gaining lasting public
opinion formation to pass and sustain restrictive liquor
laws. Their inability to maintain such favorable public
opinion led to rapid decline in coercive temperance by
1860, bringing to an end the first stage in American legal
temperance.
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