Temperance in America

On February 13, 1826, the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was formed. It was later renamed the American Temperance Society.  According to Professor David J. Hanson, within five years "there were 2,220 local chapters in the country with 170,000 members and within ten years there were over 8,000 local groups and more than 1,500,000 members."  The temperance movement would continue to grow in America and would ultimately culminate in the passage of the 18th Amendment, beginning the era of prohibition.