What caused the temperance movement

The temperance movement was cause because after Industrial Revolution, alcohol consumption became common and perceived as a social problem. It was just because the need for sober labour to operate heavy machinery that came with the revolution began changing the general attitude towards alcohol.

The earliest temperance reformers were concerned with the overindulgence of American drinkers and encouraged moderation. By 1830, the average American older than 15 consumed at least seven gallons of alcohol a year. Alcohol abuse was rampant, and temperance advocates argued that it led to poverty and domestic violence.