The Temperance Movement: Origins of America's "Alcohol Problem" (APUSH Period 4)

www.tomrichey.net/apush
The Temperance Movement sprang up during the Antebellum period as one of the many reform movements that developed in response to the Second Great Awakening. Temperance advocates sought to ban alcohol, seeing drunkenness as a threat to moral society and believing moral reform to be necessary. The Temperance Movement later bore fruit during the Progressive Era, when the 18th Amendment was passed banning the sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the United States.
While the 18th Amendment is the only amendment to the US Constitution to be repealed by another amendment (conveniently enough, the 21st Amendment), the Temperance Movement still has a legacy in the United States, which is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere with a drinking age of 21.
This video will be helpful for students taking AP US History and similar US History survey courses.

[@magmasunburst9331]

I have a few books on The Temperance movement now. Platform Echoes by Gough and 50 great cartoons by Frank Beard. I consider them both great works but the platform echoes really shows the great heart of people. Imagine if all the people today who were dying of drug overdoses, homelessness from addiction and mental illness, had a band of people who cared about them who would do anything for them. That's pretty much what the temperance movement was.

[@tp3922]

To explain why it was called temperance, in the beginning (early 1800s - 1808 I think was the first known reference) it was a call to moderate one drinking problem: which at the time, the average consumption of whiskey and other alcohol in the USA by those 16 and older was 7 gallons per year. The problem is that you're not approaching the movement from both sides - you need to address it also from stand point where alcoholism did create and destroyed families. Granted the movement also led to even more problems in society, mainly organized crime ... but, it makes me wonder if it had remained a moderate goal instead of absence from alcohol and tobacco products ... would we have had the likes of Al Capone in our American history (but this we may never know).

[@CornerTalker]

The Valentine's Day Massacre shocked the nation, now it's every other weekend in Chicago and doesn't even make the national news.

[@masonwright5148]

The Harambe part....😂😂

[@labmanatlarge]

Same LMAO

[@SnorriGylfasonGoi]

I gave up drinking for 28 years ago..

[@tcc5750]

I have autoimmune hepatitis so I can't drink, only have twice, a funeral in 2015 and on New Years 2017. But I think having the alcohol age at 21 is a mistake, when I was in HS many kids would buy alcohol illegally at 16, 17, 18, from some kid's older brother or sneak some bottles away from a huge party etc. It's just a silly law.

[@aar0nhickman]

Thank you! you really helped me with my APUSH project!

[@micahlindley]

"I'm too drunk, I can't find who to hit with these fire tongs" because that's totally what fire tongs are for.

[@58jeffers]

I love the subtle Big Lebowski reference. "This is what happens Larry...this is what happens..."

[@danielaquezada1594]

I love your videos, always helping me out before a quiz!

[@tomrichey]

+Daniela Quezada Thanks! I'm glad to help!

[@jaydentownsend5402]

Double upload by Tom Richey, I must be dead, or either its exam period in The States! Great video on Dutch Art with amazing examples, and this was a great show of how the prohibition era was determined by what had been brewing for half a century.

[@tomrichey]

+Jahatma Townstead I'm making an effort to post more regularly. We'll see if I'm able to keep it up. Thanks for the encouragement, my friend.

[@jaydentownsend5402]

Dont stress yourself for the channel. Stress yourself over your real students. Trust me.

[@jaydentownsend5402]

* stress over your "formal" students. Most people here are just here to learn anyway in our free-time.

[@tomrichey]

+Jahatma Townstead It's not a stresser. It's a pleasure to have people like you who value the content I create!

[@jaydentownsend5402]

Ya'll a good man Tom.

[@trunkage]

The guy at the start of the cartoon was drinking in the morning because it was safer than drinking water. We've only had safe drinking water for a century. Everyone, including children, had alcohol for breakfast. And evey meal of the day. It was generally very weak beer. Alcohol become problematic when they started making whiskey on masse, which got people drunk quickly

[@ShogunateDaimyo]

That's not true. That's a common misconception. You could boil water and safely drink it just as easy as taking a beer.

[@mememem]

wickedness must be stamped out

[@CornerTalker]

Why the difference in drinking age? Because European youth take the train or the streetcar; American youth get behind the wheel.

[@joeycoolproductions3173]

Mmm I love the temperance movement

[@rickynapier9120]

The Temperance Movement is all so a very talented British Rock band out on tour, check them out ?

[@powella4450]

You're the best!!!!

[@tomrichey]

+Ella Powell IKR

[@kirbyswenson2818]

Not that prohibition or even "temperance" was a good idea, but the US sure knows how to have substance abuse issues when it has them. Maybe instead of paths to decadence the cartoons should just have said "Hey America, you have a problem!"

[@SuperNintendawg]

Shouting out Dev Patel? The actor???

[@TheManInRoomFive]

Denmark = 16, for weaker products such as beer. 18 for strong liqueur.

[@Afobatin]

Yep, and the limit is at 16.5 percent alcohol by volume.

[@chrissalt4903]

The drinking age in Norway is 18 not 16.

[@tomrichey]

+Christoffer Gavelli Got it! Looks like this has changed in the last decade.

[@piotrkilian8985]

In Poland it's also 18

[@Avarua59]

In Canada it is 19 not 18.

[@davidpaul5338]

According to CDC, from 2006 and 2010, on average, 88,000 deaths we're due to alcohol in the U.S.

[@elmerthekeeblerelf2013]

Holy crap, this is good propaganda. The drunkard's progress is spot on.

[@tcc5750]

0:21 LOL

[@mswriter3612]

Alcohol causes much suffering

[@kristaalbertins9257]

You forgot Latvia :////

[@tomrichey]

+Krista Albertins I'm so sorry! :'(

[@mayaortiz3420]

Thx but you would talk about stuff that didn't matter :/

[@mswriter3612]

This could be part of why the USA is more successful

[@libertylighthouse8080]

Temperance typically means self-control. Biblically, temperance is a fruit of the Spirit signifying being controlled by the Holy Spirit. A person who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him doesn't need an external power or law telling him what to do. He or she can use alcohol and not abuse it.

[@SuperBfrizzle]

9:53 Dude, you are being very undude.

[@tomrichey]

Nothing is ****ed here, Dude...