Consider the main methods that were used in the rise of the National Prohibition Campaign

 Next came the WCTU, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1874, made up mainly of middle class women who fought to make the country realise the link between abuse on women by men and alcohol consumption. Then in 1875 the WCTU challenged congress for a federal prohibition act. This group ran by Francis Willard in Illinois became one of the most successful through the use of Lobbying and Propaganda, this started as a religious campaign but soon after faded into a suffragette style movement. The WCTU also taught many of the vagrants and immigrants that came to America moving west, this allowed them to enforce there values of Prohibition upon them, almost like a control method. Carrie A. nation was the most famous of all temperance campaigners, particularly noted for promoting her viewpoint through vandalism. Nation would enter an alcohol-serving establishment and attack the bar with a hatchet, smashing all the stock and furniture that stood in her way. Continuing her crusade in many American cities, she was arrested 30 times for disturbing the peace, however never could be prosecuted further as that would be admitting the alcohol was a major problem within America.

Next we see the ASL coming in to action superseding the WCTU, this campaign started in 1893, with the famous Wayne Wheeler as its most successful voice. The ASL was helped along by many officials and also ‘members of the business and scientific communities’ they believed that alcohol was a thorn in the side of industrial efficiency. The ASL had one major objective, to destroy the Liquor League. Unfortunately for the Anti-Prohibitionists this group of campaigners were like professionals at implementing what they wanted, there lobbying of officials and ability to look above corruption was perfect. Wayne Wheeler AKA the ‘Dry Boss’ worked as their legal advisor, becoming the most important figure in America. They used all America stands for freedom and liberty along with Christian values, even though Prohibition was a restriction on liberty. The Anti saloon league was able to ‘bombard Wet America with Dry literature every week’.

Then came WW1 the major turning point in the Prohibition, as the troops mobilised so did the ASL, they started to divide and rule, by campaigning that Whiskey was nothing but a waste of grain which could go to feeding soldiers and also the general public that were in need of aid, Wheelers lobbying and legislation won, and finally banned the distillation of whiskey during war times. Also with this came the law that men in uniform could not enter a saloon, even if abroad fighting. The war with Germany added a lot of suspicion to the German brewers and saloon owners, giving a heightened feeling of Xenophobia, one such writer called them Germany’s secret army. Towards the end of the world war in January 1918 prohibition was put to the vote, along with the feeling of patriotism if you voted yes. Prohibition was no seen as the righteous solution to America, this was the vote that called for the 18th amendment on the 16th of January 1918, however the amendment itself did not ban the actual consumption of alcohol, but made obtaining it legally difficult.