Introduction / Context:
The temperance movement was a major social reform effort that began in the nineteenth century and influenced politics and daily life in several countries, especially in Europe and North America. Its leaders believed that alcohol abuse caused poverty, family violence, and moral decline. This question asks about the main goal of the temperance movement. Knowing the answer helps learners understand the link between social reform and later laws such as alcohol prohibition.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The movement in question is the temperance movement.
- The options include goals related to alcohol, tobacco, and other behaviours.
- The learner is expected to identify which goal best matches the movement central purpose.
- Temperance is understood here in its historical reform meaning, not just as moderate personal behaviour.
Concept / Approach:
Historically, temperance organisations focused mainly on alcohol. Some groups first encouraged moderation in drinking, while later groups demanded complete abstinence and even legal bans on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Their campaigns helped lead to policies such as prohibition in the United States. While some reformers also criticised other vices such as tobacco or gambling, the core temperance agenda and its most famous laws were directed at alcohol. Therefore, the correct answer should describe stopping or greatly reducing the production and sale of alcoholic drinks, not banning tobacco alone or promoting unrelated behaviours.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Focus on the word temperance, which in historical reform language refers to restraint or abstinence from alcohol.
2. Recall that temperance societies campaigned for people to stop drinking or to drink much less.
3. Remember that several such groups later pushed for legal bans on alcohol production and sale.
4. Examine the options and locate the one that specifically mentions stopping or greatly reducing alcoholic drinks.
5. Recognise that options about tobacco, gambling, or promoting drinking do not match the movement guiding purpose.
6. Select the option that describes limiting alcohol as the main goal.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, learners can think of famous examples such as temperance societies, anti saloon leagues, and the eventual adoption of alcohol prohibition in some countries. These actions clearly show that temperance campaigners saw alcohol as a root cause of many social problems and wanted to remove or reduce it. While a few reformers might have spoken about tobacco or other habits, these were not the primary targets. This confirms that the answer about stopping or greatly reducing alcoholic drinks accurately captures the central goal of the movement.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Stopping tobacco use alone does not describe the traditional temperance agenda, which is centred on alcohol.
Banning both alcohol and tobacco equally overstates the usual focus; most temperance groups concentrated on alcohol and did not always treat tobacco in the same way.
Promoting heavy drinking at social events is the opposite of the movement purpose and clearly incorrect.
Supporting unrestricted gambling is unrelated to temperance reform and does not appear as a goal in standard historical accounts.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse temperance with general moral reform and may assume it targeted all possible vices equally, including tobacco and gambling. Others may think of temperance only as moderation in personal life and forget the strong political campaigns for legal bans. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to remember one central idea: the temperance movement aimed to prevent the damage caused by alcohol by limiting or abolishing its use. This focus on alcohol makes it easy to choose the correct option in exam questions.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is
To stop or greatly reduce the production and sale of alcoholic drinks.
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