In the 1830s the per capita consumption of liquor dropped tremendously after its long standing high mark. Why these heavy drinkers became so devoted to the temperance cause has been overlooked. Some thought that it was caused by the discovery of alcohol’s harmful nature. This, however, is a skewed interpretation considering that Rush discovered the harmful effects of alcohol and spread his warnings widely yet went unheeded. Consumption still continued to grow after his discovery and attempts to educate the masses. The movement was a reaction to growing drinking trends such as the solitary binge. The movement served the same purpose, to relieve stress and anxiety in a social setting. The market revolution and its severe changes drew some men into the bottle while others created temperance societies. Abstinence was appealing because drinkers soon found that to have the same effects, they must drink more liquor. This higher level of consumption led to delirium tremens, vomiting, or death. Since this induced eupho
ria brought pain and discomfort, people sought other ways to find happiness. And since the solitary drinker soon became antisocial, drinking was thought to not only be unable to bring happiness, but also threatened social stability. American society had just become a stable, healthy society, and therefore new ideologies needed to be established to strengthen the institutions of society. The antiliquor movement began as early as 1810, issuing religious pamphlets and newspaper articles speaking against liquor. People were moved by emotion sermons condemning drinkers, showing that the masses were more welcoming to moral persuasion than scientific reason. Leaders promoted religious faith as an alternative to drinking, and made liquor itself seem like it was the devil’s own tool. An agent of a statewide temperance group would often visit a town, give a talk to the people, and urge the formation of a local temperance society. Then a group of citizens would create the temperance group, make a constitution and a pledg
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