Terry Luteri
History
George Kepple
March 2017
WCTU
The WCTU,(the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union) was the first large scale movement by women, according to their web site. Yes, they are still around and active. They were “organized by women who were concerned about the destructive power of alcohol and the problems it was causing their families and society.” They were founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1874. It came out of a Woman’s Crusade in the winter of 1873-1874, in Freedom, New York, Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio. After listening to a lecture by Dr. Dio Lewis, the women were moved to stage non-violent protests on the viles of alcohol. These, for the most, were part mild mannered housewives would show up at saloons …show more content…
They began their discussions in the summer of 1874, at Chautauqua, New York, prior to holding the national convention in Cleveland. At the convention, they elected Mrs. Annie Wiittenmeyer as the first president and adopted as their slogan “For God, Home, and Native Land” for protection of the home was their main concern. They also selected a white bow ribbon to symbolize purity, and selected as their watchwords “ Agitate - Educate – Legislate”. The WCTU quickly became the largest organization of women in the United States and later the world. The protest against alcohol was more a movement against the civil rights of the women, who during this time in our history were nothing more than property. Most political meetings were held in bars and saloons and excluded woman, Could you imagine, what the men thought when these prim and proper ladies entered a saloon, got down on their knees and started praying on the wickedness of alcohol? Very gutsy on the part of the woman. In 1879, Annie Wittenmeyer stepped down as president and Frances Willard took over, and in addition to protesting against the use of alcohol, she organized the WTCU to get involved in the political process to try to have alcohol banned. They were one of the first groups
History
George Kepple
March 2017
WCTU
The WCTU,(the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union) was the first large scale movement by women, according to their web site. Yes, they are still around and active. They were “organized by women who were concerned about the destructive power of alcohol and the problems it was causing their families and society.” They were founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1874. It came out of a Woman’s Crusade in the winter of 1873-1874, in Freedom, New York, Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio. After listening to a lecture by Dr. Dio Lewis, the women were moved to stage non-violent protests on the viles of alcohol. These, for the most, were part mild mannered housewives would show up at saloons …show more content…
They began their discussions in the summer of 1874, at Chautauqua, New York, prior to holding the national convention in Cleveland. At the convention, they elected Mrs. Annie Wiittenmeyer as the first president and adopted as their slogan “For God, Home, and Native Land” for protection of the home was their main concern. They also selected a white bow ribbon to symbolize purity, and selected as their watchwords “ Agitate - Educate – Legislate”. The WCTU quickly became the largest organization of women in the United States and later the world. The protest against alcohol was more a movement against the civil rights of the women, who during this time in our history were nothing more than property. Most political meetings were held in bars and saloons and excluded woman, Could you imagine, what the men thought when these prim and proper ladies entered a saloon, got down on their knees and started praying on the wickedness of alcohol? Very gutsy on the part of the woman. In 1879, Annie Wittenmeyer stepped down as president and Frances Willard took over, and in addition to protesting against the use of alcohol, she organized the WTCU to get involved in the political process to try to have alcohol banned. They were one of the first groups