---
title: "Scott Act | History of Canada"
description: "Scott Act of 1898 let Canadian communities vote on local prohibition, showing how temperance shaped alcohol policy in History of Canada after 1867."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/history-canada-after-1867/key-terms/scott-act"
type: "key-term"
subject: "History of Canada – 1867 to Present"
unit: "Unit 6"
---

# Scott Act | History of Canada

## Definition

The Scott Act was a 1898 Canadian law that let local communities vote to ban alcohol sales. In History of Canada after 1867, it shows how temperance pressure shaped prohibition policy.

## What It Is

The Scott Act was a Canadian prohibition law passed in 1898 that let local communities decide, by referendum, whether alcohol sales would be banned in their area. In this course, it shows up as an early step in the long shift from temperance reform to full prohibition.

The law mattered because it did not impose one single national ban everywhere at once. Instead, it gave municipalities and counties a way to vote themselves “dry,” which made prohibition feel local, practical, and politically easier to pass than a blanket federal ban. That is why the Scott Act is often linked to the temperance movement rather than just to liquor law.

The temperance movement argued that alcohol caused poverty, violence, family breakdown, and social disorder. Supporters of the Scott Act believed restricting alcohol would improve public morals and public health. In practice, the law reflected a mix of moral reform, social control, and local activism. It also shows how reform movements could shape legislation even before World War I pushed prohibition ideas farther.

The Scott Act did not create a perfectly uniform system across Canada. Some communities adopted prohibition, while others did not, which meant enforcement varied a lot from place to place. That patchwork matters in Canadian history because it explains why later prohibition was messy and uneven, with different provinces and local governments making different choices.

You can think of the Scott Act as part of the bridge between temperance campaigns and the broader prohibition era. It did not end drinking in Canada, but it gave reformers a legal tool and a political model that later prohibition laws built on.

## Why It Matters

The Scott Act matters because it shows how alcohol regulation became a major issue in post-Confederation Canada. It connects moral reform movements to actual government policy, which is a common pattern in Canadian social history. When you see the Scott Act, you are seeing the temperance movement move from speeches and petitions into law.

It also helps explain why prohibition in Canada developed unevenly. The act used local referendums, so alcohol policy could change town by town instead of all at once. That patchwork approach is a big clue for essays and short answers, because it helps explain why enforcement was inconsistent and why people could still find ways around the law.

The Scott Act is also useful for tracing how public concerns changed over time. Reformers framed alcohol as a threat to health, family life, and social order, not just as a personal habit. That makes the law a good example of how governments sometimes respond to social problems by trying to regulate behavior, especially when moral reform groups are pushing hard.

If you are connecting topics in the prohibition unit, the Scott Act sits near the start of the chain that leads to wartime prohibition, provincial liquor rules, and later liquor control systems.

## Connections

### Temperance Movement

The Scott Act grew out of temperance activism. Temperance supporters wanted to reduce alcohol consumption because they believed drinking caused social harm, and they pushed governments to turn that reform ideal into law. If you are tracing why prohibition gained support, temperance is the movement behind the pressure.

### Referendum

The Scott Act used local referendums to decide whether a community would become dry. That is a big part of why the law spread unevenly, because different places could vote differently. It is a good example of direct local decision-making shaping public policy.

### Prohibition

The Scott Act is an early step toward prohibition in Canada, but it is not the same thing as a later full ban. It shows how prohibition developed gradually, first through local restrictions and then through broader provincial and wartime measures. Use it to explain the transition, not as the final stage.

### [Canada Temperance Act](/history-canada-after-1867/key-terms/canada-temperance-act)

Both laws dealt with restricting alcohol, but they belong to the same larger reform story. The Canada Temperance Act is another major piece of prohibition-era legislation, and comparing it with the Scott Act helps you see how Canadian alcohol policy moved between local control and broader government action.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz question or short-answer prompt might ask you to identify what the Scott Act did, or to explain why it mattered in the rise of prohibition. A good answer names the local referendum system and connects it to the temperance movement and the push for alcohol restriction.

In a timeline question, place it in 1898 and link it to the broader march toward provincial prohibition and, later, wartime prohibition. In an essay, use it as evidence that reform movements could shape law before the major prohibition wave of the 1910s.

If a source excerpt mentions communities voting to ban alcohol, that is a strong clue that the Scott Act is involved. The move is to explain not just the law itself, but what it reveals about local control, moral reform, and uneven enforcement across Canada.

## Scott Act vs Canada Temperance Act

These are easy to mix up because both were anti-alcohol laws tied to temperance reform. The Scott Act is best known for letting local communities vote on prohibition through referendums, while the Canada Temperance Act is a separate piece of liquor-control legislation. If a question emphasizes local voting, think Scott Act.

## Key Takeaways

- The Scott Act was a Canadian law passed in 1898 that let communities vote to ban alcohol sales locally.
- It came out of the temperance movement, which argued that alcohol caused social and moral harm.
- The law created a patchwork of dry and wet areas, so enforcement varied from one place to another.
- The Scott Act did not end alcohol use in Canada, but it helped set the stage for later prohibition laws.
- It is a useful example of how reform movements, local politics, and public morality shaped Canadian law after Confederation.

## FAQs

### What is the Scott Act in History of Canada after 1867?

The Scott Act was a 1898 Canadian law that let local communities vote on whether to ban alcohol sales. In Canadian history, it is tied to the temperance movement and the early growth of prohibition policy. It matters because it shows how reform ideas turned into local law before full prohibition arrived.

### How was the Scott Act different from full prohibition?

The Scott Act did not create one nationwide alcohol ban. Instead, it allowed communities to choose prohibition through referendums, which made the system uneven across Canada. Full prohibition later went further by making alcohol restrictions broader and more systematic in many provinces.

### Why did the temperance movement support the Scott Act?

Temperance supporters believed alcohol caused poverty, violence, family problems, and poor public health. The Scott Act gave them a legal way to push those beliefs into policy at the local level. It was a practical tool for reformers who wanted governments to act on moral concerns.

### How do you use the Scott Act in a history answer?

Use it as evidence that prohibition developed gradually in Canada. If you are explaining alcohol reform, local politics, or the influence of moral movements, the Scott Act is a strong example. It also helps you show why prohibition enforcement was uneven across the country.

## Related Study Guides

- [6.4 Prohibition and its Consequences](/history-canada-after-1867/unit-6/prohibition-consequences/study-guide/eqpOLlsTgGTMlnS4)

## About This Document

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