Women's Christian Temperance Union

Definition

The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was a women's organization founded in 1874 in the United States aimed at promoting temperance, or the abstinence from alcohol. The WCTU not only focused on the prohibition of alcohol but also addressed broader social issues such as women's suffrage, education, and labor reform, making it a significant force in the early women's rights movement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The WCTU was one of the first organizations that united women around a common cause, demonstrating their organizational power and political activism.
2. Frances Willard served as the president of the WCTU for 19 years and expanded its goals to include women's suffrage and social reforms beyond temperance.
3. The WCTU created a platform called 'Do Everything' that urged its members to engage in a variety of social issues, including health care, education, and child welfare.
4. The organization played a key role in influencing the passage of the 18th Amendment, which enacted Prohibition in 1920.
5. The WCTU continues to exist today, advocating for various social justice issues while remaining rooted in its original mission of promoting temperance.

Review Questions

• How did the Women's Christian Temperance Union contribute to both the temperance and suffrage movements in the United States?
  • The Women's Christian Temperance Union played a dual role in both the temperance and suffrage movements by organizing women around the cause of alcohol prohibition while simultaneously advocating for women's voting rights. The WCTU used its platform to raise awareness about how alcohol abuse affected families and society, thus empowering women to seek legislative change. This connection between temperance and women's rights helped to broaden the scope of activism among women during this period.
• Discuss the leadership role of Frances Willard within the Women's Christian Temperance Union and her impact on its mission.
  • Frances Willard was a pivotal leader within the Women's Christian Temperance Union, serving as its president from 1879 until her death in 1898. She expanded the organization's mission beyond just temperance to encompass women's suffrage and various social reforms. Willard's vision of 'Do Everything' encouraged members to engage in numerous social issues, effectively elevating the role of women in public life and influencing future generations of female activists.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Women's Christian Temperance Union on American society, particularly regarding Prohibition and women's rights.
  • The Women's Christian Temperance Union had significant long-term effects on American society by being a driving force behind Prohibition through its lobbying efforts and public campaigns. The passage of the 18th Amendment in 1920 reflected the culmination of these efforts but also highlighted complexities regarding social change. Although Prohibition was later repealed, the WCTU's involvement laid foundational work for subsequent women's rights movements by illustrating women's capacity for organized political action and advocacy, ultimately contributing to broader societal changes regarding gender equality.

Related terms

Temperance Movement: A social movement advocating for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol consumption, which gained significant traction in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Suffrage Movement: The movement to secure voting rights for women, which intersected with various social reform efforts, including those led by the WCTU.

Prohibition: The legal prevention of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933, largely influenced by organizations like the WCTU.