Description
During the antebellum period (after the War of 1812 and before the Civil War), temperance societies sprang up throughout the United States. Their goal was a prohibition on alcohol which they believed negatively impacted everyone. Temperance societies used political cartoons like this one to show how people’s lives were negatively impacted by alcohol use. Temperance societies wanted a total ban on all alcohol because they thought it ruined not only the lives of individuals, but also the lives of everyone in society. This political cartoon from 1846 showed the progress of an individual from taking one drink to a slide into alcoholism and ruin.
Transcript of "The Drunkard's Progress"
Source-Dependent Questions
- How does the artist of this cartoon use imagery to support the idea that alcohol has a negative impact? Cite examples from the image.
- Based on your interpretation of the image, what does the artist think is the result of alcohol consumption for individuals? For society?
- How are the motivations expressed in this cartoon similar or different to the motivations expressed by Dorothea Dix or George Washington Hosmer? What conclusions can you draw about the motivated reformers during the antebellum period based on your analysis?
Citation Information
Kellogg, E.B. & E.C., "The Drunkard's Progress," 15 June 1846. Courtesy of Library of Congress