Beyond Parochialism: Southern Progressivism, Prohibition, and State-Building

Szymanski, Ann-Marie

doi:10.2307/30039842

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Third, although she remained the leader of the national WCTU, Willard's physical departure for Europe seems to have weakened the bond other members had with the Prohibition Party (Bordin, 1986). Finally, upon her death in 1898, Willard's heir to the presidency, Lillian M. N. Stevens, oversaw the moderation of the group, appealing more directly to the South and its local (but not constitutional) means of restricting alcohol (Szymanski, 2003a). Although likely due, in part, to the rapid expansion of the Anti-Saloon League throughout the country, Stevens' actions reflected a moderation that was not as accepted in Willard's time (but see Ivy, 1998, on Willard's attempts to build the WCTU in the South).…”

Section: The Wctu-prohibition Connectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Connection Between the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party

2016

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For the first 70 years of the post-Civil War United States, prohibition reemerged as a mainstream topic that interested people in every region of the country. The movement toward national prohibition was preceded by state and local efforts to shut down the traffic, sale, and consumption of intoxicating beverages. Given the intensity of feelings and the scope of activity, the abolition of alcohol became the political issue that trumped all others for a large number of committed citizens. Prohibition also gained particular popularity among politically active women. Many had played key roles in abolitionist organizations (e.g., Jeffrey, 1998; Robertson, 2010) and early temperance groups (e.g., Dannenbaum, 1981; Tyrrell, 1982), and others had been involved with benevolent societies of various types (e.g., Boylan, 1990; Ryan, 1979). With the abolition of slavery, many women turned to addressing other ills in society that required correction, and they soon sought to heal the country and the family by advocating for public policies that promoted a "sober and pure world." It is not without reason, then, that the largest women's organization up to that time, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), formed around the topic. Established in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, the group's mission was to "protect the home"-and by extension, create greater personal and financial security for U.S. familiesthrough the prohibition of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Early leaders, including Annie Wittenmyer, Mary Johnson, Mary Ingram, and Frances Willard (whose name is most frequently associated with the group), viewed the group's cause as part of an attempt to exercise political voice, even without the franchise. Prohibition was a logical policy goal for women of this era, who were largely restricted to the private sphere, and were, thus, particularly susceptible to the social costs of alcohol abuse. In addition, it was considered unseemly for women of the era to spend much time in taverns and saloons, where much political business was conducted. As a result, few issues important to women and family-including education, child custody, and divorcetypically received the attention of political leaders of the day. The cause of prohibition, thus, became a way for women to bring indirect and direct attention to these issues. The WCTU grew rapidly in membership and status, eventually becoming the largest women's organization in the world. In the decade after its founding, it became organized 684373S GOXXX10.

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Section: The Wctu-prohibition Connectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Connection Between the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party

2016

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“…Once these victories were achieved, prohibitionists worked toward the development of state laws. As Ann-Marie E. Szymanski (2003b) notes, ASL leaders reasoned that a strategy that gave local victories to Prohibition supporters would keep them energized for future campaigns, because in politics "nothing succeeds like success and nothing makes more sentiment than the proper utilization of the sentiment which already exists" (Cherrington 1920: 251-52).…”

Section: Reformers' Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Access to Saloons, Wet Voter Turnout, and Statewide Prohibition Referenda, 1907–1919

Lewis¹

2008

Social Science History

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When explaining the success of the Prohibition movement in the United States between 1900 and 1920, scholars argue that prohibitionists were able both to tap into the distrust of many rural, native-born, evangelical Protestants toward modern urban life and to bring together disparate groups of reformers around one goal: the elimination of the saloon. Furthermore, localized campaigns resulting in the elimination of saloons from many rural areas kept this base of voters energized, ultimately leading to impressive dry turnouts in statewide Prohibition referenda. This study extends and amplifies these findings through an analysis of three sets of factors on voting outcomes: the percentage of various demographic groups (urban, immigrant, and ritualistic religious populations) residing in a county; the distance of each county to saloons; the presence or absence of producers of alcohol in a county. Results of ordinary least-squares regression demonstrate that access to saloons and the percentage of immigrant and ritualistic church members in a county are the variables that most influence the results of Prohibition referenda. Furthermore, unlike what previous research has demonstrated, these variables have their greatest influence by affecting wet turnout rates.

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“The Schools Lost Their Isolation”: Interest Groups and Institutions in Educational Policy Development in the Jim Crow South

Malczewski

2011

J. Policy Hist.

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Beyond Parochialism: Southern Progressivism, Prohibition, and State-Building

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

The Connection Between the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party

The Connection Between the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party

Access to Saloons, Wet Voter Turnout, and Statewide Prohibition Referenda, 1907–1919

“The Schools Lost Their Isolation”: Interest Groups and Institutions in Educational Policy Development in the Jim Crow South

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