Women as Agents of Change

In early nineteenth century America, the temperance movement was inspired by a concern for society's moral and physical wellbeing. Many reformers believed that only through total abstinence could the family, home, and society be saved from the destructive effects of alcoholism. Women's sphere of influence was limited to the home, but they were seen as the first line of defense in the fight to preserve future generations. Those who supported the temperance movement were expected–as part of their moral responsibility–to instruct their children, refuse to serve alcohol in their homes, and even encourage their family members to pledge themselves to "teetotalism," or total abstinence.

Published in 1834, this edition of the periodical Temperance Recorder includes a "Highly Important Certificate" of abstinence with facsimiles of three US presidents' signatures. The accompanying dramatic illustration shows a family, including young children, taking the pledge. Although women's enthusiasm for the temperance movement was fueled largely by practical concerns for their family's safety and economic security, here the biblically-inspired text points to the current of religious sentiment that inspired early reform efforts.