Protecting the family, women, and children
The Temperance movement, advocating for moderation or abstinence from alcohol, aimed to improve family life by addressing issues like domestic violence, financial strain, and the perceived negative impact of alcohol on children and family well-being, ultimately leading to the Prohibition era. The movement argued that reducing alcohol consumption would lead to families having more money and resources, as less would be spent on alcohol.
In addition to addressing Alcohol-Related Issues, i.e., that alcohol consumption led to social problems, including domestic abuse, financial instability, and neglect of family responsibilities, Temperance advocates, particularly women, emphasized the negative impact of alcohol on women and children, whom they saw as vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Temperance organizations, like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), actively promoted education about the dangers of alcohol, reaching into schools and communities.
Victims of a family member's drinking
Illustration showing women and children standing outside of a liquor store, captioned "The Victims of the Bottle." From Broken fetters, the light of ages on intoxication, by Charles Morris, published by the Temperance Publishing Co. in 1888.
Man in the throes of delirium tremens
Illustration of a man experiencing alcohol-induced delirium, captioned "Delirium Tremens." From Fifty years history of the Temperance cause. Intemperance the great national curse, threatening the purity and stability of our institutions, secular and religious; the fruitful source of poverty, misery, crime, and degradation of the individual and family by J. E. Stebbins, published by J. P. Fitch in 1876.
The "unlicensed" robber vs. the "licensed" robber
Print of two images. The upper image is captioned "The Unlicensed Robber. Highwayman: 'Your money OR your life!" and depicts a robbery at gunpoint. The lower image is captioned "The Licensed Robber. Rumseller: 'Your money AND your life!" and depicts a man drinking at a bar. From the book The liquor problem in all ages, by Daniel Dorchester, Phillips & Hunt, 1884.
Children in Temperance literature
Home of the Temperate
Illustration showing a temperance advocate's family at home in an idyllic setting, captioned "Home of the Temperate."
Home of the Intemperate
A stark contrast to the picture above, this illustration shows a drunk man at home, swinging a fist at his wife while his children watch. Caption reads "Home of the Intemperate." Both images are from Fifty years history of the Temperance cause. Intemperance the great national curse, threatening the purity and stability of our institutions, secular and religious; the fruitful source of poverty, misery, crime, and degradation of the individual and family, by J. E. Stebbins, published by J. P. Fitch in 1876.
Children in Temperance literature were often depicted as innocent victims suffering under the destructive influence of alcohol. Their miserable situation was portrayed through several key themes, such as neglect, starvation, physical abuse, ruined innocence, moral decay, and crime.
The most famous portrayal of family and children was created by George Cruikshank, a British artist and Temperance activist, in a series of eight plates entitled "The Bottle," telling the story of the devastating effects of alcoholism on a middle-class family. His sequel, called "The Drunkard's Children," follows the fates of the alcoholic father's son and daughter.
Illustrations depicting children and the family in Temperance books are designed to stir emotions, inspire reform, and encourage readers to support the movement by highlighting the innocent suffering caused by alcohol abuse.
Children of the drinker are pitied as they await outside a bar
Illustration of a group of children waiting for their parents, drinking inside the bar, captioned "Field of Happy Children." From An old story: a temperance tale in verse, by S. C. Hall, published by Virtue and Company, Limited in 1875.
Children of a drunkard awake to find empty Christmas stockings
Print showing children in front of a fireplace, looking at their empty Christmas stockings. From The Curse of Drink: or Stories of Hell's Commerce, edited by Elton Raymond Shaw, published by Shaw Publishing Company in 1909.
Children being taught an example of the drunkard
Illustration showing a group of children looking down at a drunk person laying in the street, captioned "Taught Their Children Thus." From An old story: a temperance tale in verse, by S. C. Hall, published by Virtue and Company, Limited in 1875.
Women at the saloon
Temperance crusaders singing outside a saloon
Illustration showing a group of temperance advocates singing outside of a saloon, captioned "Singing Outside the Saloon." From Fifty years history of the Temperance cause. Intemperance the great national curse, threatening the purity and stability of our institutions, secular and religious; the fruitful source of poverty, misery, crime, and degradation of the individual and family, by J. E. Stebbins, published by J. P. Fitch in 1876.
A saloon owner surrenders to the Temperance cause
Illustration of temperance advocates demonstrating outside of a saloon, captioned "Van Pelt's Surrender." From Fifty years history of the Temperance cause. Intemperance the great national curse, threatening the purity and stability of our institutions, secular and religious; the fruitful source of poverty, misery, crime, and degradation of the individual and family, by J. E. Stebbins, published by J. P. Fitch in 1876.