Alcohol Use In The 1800s

In the 1800s, many Americans began to drink excessively. This was partly due to economic and social problems that occurred during and after the time of the American Revolution. Alcohol was abused daily. Instead of money, workers were given drinks as a method of payment. It was not long before people learned that alcohol caused health problems such as anxiety, permanent brain damage, and alcoholism. Americans also came to the conclusion that alcohol was the cause of many crimes. There were over twenty different temperance organizations to persuade Americans to avoid the use of alcoholic beverages and to encourage complete abstinence.
Maine passed a prohibiting law in 1851 outlawing the sales of alcoholic beverages, becoming a classic for state