American Temperance Society
Encyclopedia
The American Temperance Society (ATS), also known as the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was a society established on February 13, 1826 in Boston
, MA. Within five years there were 2,220 local chapters in the U.S. with 170,000 members who had taken a pledge to abstain from drinking distilled beverage
s. Within ten years, there were over 8,000 local groups and more than 1,500,000 members who had taken the pledge.
The society benefited from, and contributed to, a reform
sentiment in much of the country promoting the abolition of slavery, expanding women's rights
, temperance, and the improvement of society. Possibly because of its association with the abolitionist movement, the society was most successful in northern states.
After a while, temperance groups increasingly pressed for the mandatory prohibition
of alcohol rather than for voluntary abstinence
. The American Temperance Society was the first U.S. social movement organization to mobilize massive and national support for a specific reform cause. Their objective was to become the national clearinghouse on the topic of temperance. Within three years of its organization, ATS had spread across the country.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA. Within five years there were 2,220 local chapters in the U.S. with 170,000 members who had taken a pledge to abstain from drinking distilled beverage
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
s. Within ten years, there were over 8,000 local groups and more than 1,500,000 members who had taken the pledge.
The society benefited from, and contributed to, a reform
Reform
Reform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct....
sentiment in much of the country promoting the abolition of slavery, expanding women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, temperance, and the improvement of society. Possibly because of its association with the abolitionist movement, the society was most successful in northern states.
After a while, temperance groups increasingly pressed for the mandatory prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
of alcohol rather than for voluntary abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
. The American Temperance Society was the first U.S. social movement organization to mobilize massive and national support for a specific reform cause. Their objective was to become the national clearinghouse on the topic of temperance. Within three years of its organization, ATS had spread across the country.
Most notable people
- Lyman BeecherLyman BeecherLyman Beecher was a Presbyterian minister, American Temperance Society co-founder and leader, and the father of 13 children, many of whom were noted leaders, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher, Charles Beecher, Edward Beecher, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Catharine Beecher, and Thomas...
Preacher and Co-Founder of the ATS. - Dr.PhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
Justin Edwards Preacher and Co-Founder of ATS - Rev. Joshua LeavittJoshua LeavittRev. Joshua Leavitt was an American Congregationalist minister and former lawyer who became a prominent writer, editor and publisher of abolitionist literature. He was also a spokesman for the Liberty Party and a prominent campaigner for cheap postage...
Lawyer, editor, writer, publisher, first secretary of ATS. - John Wheeler LeavittJohn Wheeler LeavittMy grandparents were both of Puritan New England stock, English entirely. Their ancestors had been early settlers in the northern and western part of Connecticut...
served on the executive committee in 1836, NY businessman and founder of J. W. & R. Leavitt Company.
See also
- American Temperance UnionAmerican Temperance UnionA national temperance union was formed in the United States 1826. Shortly thereafter, a second national temperance union was organized and the two groups merged in 1833 to form the American Temperance Union...
- ProhibitionProhibitionProhibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
- Temperance movementTemperance movementA temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
- Volstead ActVolstead ActThe National Prohibition Act, known informally as the Volstead Act, was the enabling legislation for the Eighteenth Amendment which established prohibition in the United States...
Further reading
- Young, Michael P. (2007). Bearing Witness against Sin: The Evangelical Birth of the American Social Movement. University of Chicago Press