Enlightenment and Sure Remedy: The Development of Ethics, Thought, and Activism of the 19th Century Temperance Movement in the Western New York

Abstract

This paper focuses on the history of the temperance movement in 19th century Western New York. It draws upon research into primary and secondary writings to gain an understanding of the social and intellectual factors involved in the development of temperance thought in activity. This thesis aims to demonstrate how significant shifts in intellectual and ethical thinking where connected to the development of the temperance movement onto the course of teetotalism and prohibitionism.