Select Temperance Tracts: A Comprehensive Guide to Larry Hancock's Work

The temperance movement was a social reform movement that sought to reduce or eliminate the consumption of alcohol. It was a major force in the United States in the 19th century, and it played a significant role in the passage of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

Select Temperance Tracts

by Larry Hancock

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	765 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	233 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

One of the leading figures in the temperance movement was Larry Hancock. Hancock was a Methodist minister who wrote and published a number of anti-alcohol tracts. These tracts were widely distributed and played a significant role in promoting the cause of temperance.

In 1858, Hancock published a collection of his tracts entitled Select Temperance Tracts. This collection contains 12 tracts that cover a wide range of topics related to alcohol, including its effects on the body, mind, and soul; the social and economic costs of alcohol abuse; and the arguments in favor of prohibition.

Historical Context

The temperance movement emerged in the United States in the early 19th century. It was a response to the widespread problem of alcohol abuse, which was seen as a major social and moral problem.

The temperance movement was largely fueled by religious groups, particularly evangelical denominations such as the Methodists and Baptists. These groups believed that alcohol was a sin and that it was a major obstacle to the spread of Christianity.

The temperance movement gained momentum in the 1830s and 1840s, as a number of states passed laws restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol. In 1851, the Maine Law was passed, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the state of Maine. This law was a major victory for the temperance movement, and it inspired similar laws in other states.

By the 1850s, the temperance movement had become a major political force. In 1856, the Republican Party made prohibition a part of its platform. This helped to ensure the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860.

During the Civil War, the temperance movement continued to grow. In 1863, Lincoln signed the Prohibition Act, which prohibited the sale of alcohol to soldiers. This law was not enforced, but it was a significant symbolic victory for the temperance movement.

After the Civil War, the temperance movement continued to lobby for prohibition. In 1873, the National Prohibition Party was founded. This party nominated candidates for president in every election from 1872 to 1920.

In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. This was a major victory for the temperance movement, but it was also a short-lived one.

The 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933, and prohibition was ended. The temperance movement continued to exist, but it never regained the power that it had during the 19th century.

Content of the Tracts

The 12 tracts in Select Temperance Tracts cover a wide range of topics related to alcohol. The first tract, "The Evils of Intemperance," provides a general overview of the harmful effects of alcohol. The second tract, "The Physical Effects of Alcohol," discusses the specific effects of alcohol on the body, including its effects on the brain, heart, liver, and stomach.

The third tract, "The Mental Effects of Alcohol," discusses the effects of alcohol on the mind, including its effects on intelligence, memory, and judgment. The fourth tract, "The Moral Effects of Alcohol," discusses the effects of alcohol on the moral character, including its tendency to lead to crime, violence, and poverty.

The fifth tract, "The Social Effects of Alcohol," discusses the effects of alcohol on society, including its effects on the family, the community, and the economy. The sixth tract, "The Economic Effects of Alcohol," discusses the economic costs of alcohol abuse, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, and crime.

The seventh tract, "The Arguments in Favor of Prohibition," discusses the arguments in favor of prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. The eighth tract, "The Objections to Prohibition," discusses the arguments against prohibition.

The ninth tract, "The History of Prohibition," provides a brief history of prohibition in the United States. The tenth tract, "The Present Status of Prohibition," discusses the status of prohibition in the United States at the time of publication.

The eleventh tract, "The Future of Prohibition," discusses the future of prohibition in the United States. The twelfth tract, "The Duty of Christians in Regard to Prohibition," discusses the role of Christians in promoting prohibition.

Significance of the Tracts

Hancock's Select Temperance Tracts were a major contribution to the temperance movement. They were widely distributed and read, and they played a significant role in promoting the cause of temperance.

The tracts were particularly effective in reaching rural audiences, who were often not reached by other forms of temperance propaganda. The tracts were also effective in reaching people who were not already committed to the temperance cause.

Hancock's tracts were a major factor in the passage of the 18th Amendment. They helped to convince people that alcohol was a serious problem that needed to be addressed.

The tracts also helped to shape the public debate about prohibition. They provided a clear and concise statement of the arguments in favor of prohibition, and they helped to counter the arguments of the anti-prohibitionists.

Hancock's tracts remain an important historical document. They provide a valuable insight into the views of the temperance movement, and they help us to understand the context in which the 18th Amendment was passed.

Larry Hancock's Select Temperance Tracts were a major contribution to the temperance movement. They were widely distributed and read, and they played a significant role in promoting the cause of temperance. The tracts remain an important historical document, and they provide a valuable insight into the views of the temperance movement.

Select Temperance Tracts

by Larry Hancock

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	765 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	233 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE