Temperance+-+Eric,+Min+Jae,+and+Jenny+(In+Sun)

=The Temperance Movement =



**Background Information**

The Temperance Movement existed long before the Progressive Era. In 1826, during the Jacksonian Democracy, the American Society for Promotion of Temperance was organized. It was strongly supported by Protestants because they believed that vice and sins derived from gluttony, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Excessive drinking, of course, fell into this category. Alcohol was also strongly opposed by new Catholic immigrants to the United States. As the Progressive era emerged at the beginning of  the 20th century, people were concerned with the problems and issues that came forth as cities grew bigger and bigger. Such problems included the rising power of big business, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, the violent conflict between labor and capital, and the dominance of corrupt political machines in the cities. In particular, the vice and corruption in urban areas became a big issues and many people believed that the root cause of the increasing vice and crime was excessive drinking. People wanted to stop crimes such as spousal abuse with the prohibition of alcohol. This kind of excessive drinking happened in saloons which were often the neighborhood headquarters of political machines. This was another reason why some Progressives wanted to get lead of saloons and prohibit the drinking of alcohol. However, some urban Progressives thought this prohibition was not a effective method to drive out the political machines. On the other hand, other Progressives in the rural area believed that such prohibition could get rid of immoralities and corruption of politics. These Progressives who advocated abolition of liquors were called the "drys" or "prohibitionists" or "Temperance Crusaders". T he Women's Christian Temperance Union was t he leading progressive organization which advocated prohibition of alcohol. This organization was formed in order to stop their husbands from spending their paychecks in saloons to drink and to use prostitution. The consequence was spread of contagious sexually transmitted diseases. By the end of 1915, prohibitionists were able to convince the majority of state legislatures to forbid both purchase and selling of alcohol. Later Congress passed 18th amendment to ban alcohol on January 16, 1919 and also Volstead Act in order to enforce the alcohol ban on October 28, 1919.


 * What can be done? Or what cannot be done? **

- People get drunk= no work = no product produced (efficiency goes down) - Waste of money - Crime - Destroy Healthy Family relationship - Destitution
 * __Problems of Alcohol__ **

Since it is difficult to ban alcohol all at once, we figured that it would be effective to gradually get rid of alcohol. First, each household or individual __requesting__ for alcohol will be provided with a set amount of alcohol each month, along with a required payment for such shares. This quota will slowly decrease over time until it eventually reaches zero. There will be more rehabilitation centers built by the government for those who are addicted to the consumption of alcohol and taxes and quotas on alcohol purchases will be imposed. The financial gain gathered by these taxes and quotas will be used to fund those rehabilitation centers. Also, we will allow all exports of alcohol to other countries so that the companies can still profit from their productions. Last of all, there will be increased education in all public schools in the U.S. about the damage and harm that can result from the consumption of alcohol. This will bring about a gradual change in the behavior of alcohol consumption in future generations. Once the set distribution for alcohol reaches zero, there will be no alcohol within America.
 * __Gradual Banning of Alcohol__ **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">In order to annihilate problems caused by alcohol, one solution is to prohibit the production of alcohol. This is a very radical option which should only be used when we see that all other solutions are ineffective. If people show no capability to stop excessive drinking despite the policy that we have proposed above, the only option remaining is to ban the distribution of alcohol within our nation. This will instantly stop problems caused by the alcoholics; although we expect heavy revolts against this plan from many of the citizens and the alcohol beverage companies, prohibition of alcohol is mandatory for higher efficiency and safer household environments.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">__Radical Banning of Alcohol__ **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">There are some aspects that cannot be fixed through both of these resolutions. For instance, some religions, like the Catholics who use wine, use alcohol for religious purposes. Also, alcohol is a common component in certain industrial products and thus cannot be entirely banned. The recipe to make alcohol is very easy so people can make it on their own quite easily. Lastly, alcohol can be easily smuggled from neighboring countries that don't ban alcohol, such as Canada. Even though strict government regulation can lessen the possibility of smuggling, it is merely impossible to stop smuggling completely.

**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Comprehensive plan **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Considering all of these resolutions, we have decided upon a comprehensive plan. Since radical banning of alcohol can cause rebellions and smuggling, the best and most effective resolution in a given situation is the gradual banning of alcohol. First of all, this plan will require all manufactures, sales, and purchases of alcohol to be regulated by the government. Thus, each individual who wishes to purchase alcohol or conduct alcohol production must request permission from the government and will be provided with a set quota that will eventually decrease as time goes on. Also, this plan will allow all exports of alcohol production to other countries (regulated by the government) so that the companies can still profit from its productions. Once the set distribution for alcohol reaches none, there will be no alcohol within America. Throughout the process of this plan, we will educate the younger generation in all of the public schools in the U.S. about the damage and harm that can be caused by alcohol. Even though this resolution might not have an immediate result, it will definitely bring a gradual effect. Since all actions involving the manufacture, sale, and purchase of alcohol will be regulated by the government, there will be a smaller possibility of smuggling. For those who are addicted to alcohol, they can be rehabilitated in rehabilitation centers built by the government, which will continue to be funded through funds gathered from taxes and quotas on the alcohol purchases.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Bibliography**

//Banning of Alcohol//. Photograph. //Okolemaluna//. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

Hanson, David. "Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S." //Potsdam//. n.p., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

//Prohibition: poster for the Prohibition Party//. Photograph. //Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

//Temperance Crusaders Outside Family Groceries//. Photograph. //Ohiohistory//. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

//Temperance Crusaders Outside of J.S. Mader's Saloon//. Photograph. //Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.