Forgotten Temperance Reformers

This book is a collection of biographies of leaders in the temperance movement: Margaret Fison, Sir Thomas Whittaker, Arthur Sherwell, Jessie Forsyth and Guy Hayler. All five of the forgotten temperance reformers were prolific writers. Recovering the lives and works of these forgotten women and men enhances our understanding of the temperance movement. This book will be of special interest for anyone interested in the lost history of social movements, academics and researchers.

At the end of this book, you should be able to explain the temperance movement and the role of the reformers in the mid-1800s. Why did the temperance reformers think that people should drink less alcohol? Further, why did some of them even advocated that alcoholic beverages should be completely outlawed? Was the reasoning behind these logical? Start reading to know the answers.

The Temperance Reformation is a comprehensive history of the temperance movement in the United States, with a focus on the legal and political battles surrounding the adoption of prohibition laws. Armstrong argues that the temperance movement was a major force in shaping American politics and society in the 19th century. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The truth behind the amazing work of the women of the temperance movement. In a time when women had no vote, their temperance work made the voices of many heard and their actions count. Exploring a forgotten but vital element of women’s history, Scandal, Salvation and Suffrage demonstrates how closely the temperance campaign was linked to the fight for suffrage. Told through the true stories of real women, we see how they rose above their status as ‘the weaker sex’ to campaign for restrictions on the sale of alcohol, having recognised that many social problems were caused by excessive drinking – an issue still prevalent today. Some women were admirable but not likeable, while others were more radical and ahead of their time. Sex, slander and scandal all feature in their stories. This book leaves the reader to decide whether there are any lessons to be learned today from the work of these remarkable women and encourages us to remember their hard work and determination. Based on considerable research but written in an accessible way, Scandal, Salvation and Suffrage aims to celebrate the work of these extraordinary women and will appeal to those who enjoy social and women’s history. It is not aimed at totallers; readers can – and should – raise a toast to these extraordinary women.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1873.