Which of the following best explains the success of early nineteenth-century temperance crusaders in reducing Americans' consumption of intoxicating liquor?
A) Prohibition laws that reformers succeeded in getting passed.
B) High liquor taxes that reformers persuaded the federal government to impose.
C) Dramatic and entertaining temperance lecturers, combined with a growing realization among Americans that cultivating sobriety and hard work could have material rewards.
D) Voluntary reductions in the production of intoxicating liquor by brewers and distillers, combined with steeply rising prices of available liquor.
I am leaning on C, but I am not sure.
Thxs.
It is C
To determine the best explanation for the success of early nineteenth-century temperance crusaders in reducing Americans' consumption of intoxicating liquor, let's examine each option and see which one aligns most closely with historical evidence.
A) Prohibition laws that reformers succeeded in getting passed: While some states did pass prohibition laws during this time, they were not universally successful in reducing consumption, as they often faced significant backlash and were difficult to enforce. The implementation of prohibition laws occurred later in the 19th century and early 20th century.
B) High liquor taxes that reformers persuaded the federal government to impose: While high taxes on liquor were advocated by some reformers, they were not a significant factor in reducing consumption during the early nineteenth century. This option does not align with the historical context.
C) Dramatic and entertaining temperance lecturers, combined with a growing realization among Americans that cultivating sobriety and hard work could have material rewards: This option acknowledges the impact of temperance lecturers who delivered powerful speeches and presentations to convince people to abstain from alcohol. It also recognizes that there was a growing understanding among Americans that sobriety and hard work could lead to material success. This aligns with the historical understanding of the success of early temperance crusaders.
D) Voluntary reductions in the production of intoxicating liquor by brewers and distillers, combined with steeply rising prices of available liquor: This option suggests that brewers and distillers voluntarily reduced the production of liquor, leading to higher prices. However, there isn't substantial evidence to support this as a major factor in reducing Americans' consumption of alcohol during this time period.
Based on the above analysis, option C is the most likely explanation for the success of early nineteenth-century temperance crusaders in reducing Americans' consumption of intoxicating liquor.