Question

I'm in the process of finishing my speech for a debate. My side of the debate is to try and inform the class about why the Antebellum Reform Movement was motivated primarily by political and social reasons (my opponent thinks it was motivated primarily by religious moralism). Does anyone have any real life scenarios of how alcoholism affected the quality of work back around this time?

Answer 1

Prohibition was a movement supported primarily by women because they were most damaged by the abuse of alcohol. Historically, in the traditional family, regardless of ethnicity, the male usually was the breadwinner and the female may supplement the income, cook meals, do laundry, provide primary care for children, and support her husband. This relalationship put the female in a very bad situation if her husband did not or could not work because of love of drink or alcoholism. Further, many Americans were poor and the paycheck was simply not big enough to feed a family and an alcoholics habit. Since addiction could rob one of reason, many times the family would go hungry.

Answer 2

Also it was another Southern v Northern issue, but primarily urban v. rural issue, as many of the most important political issues of this time were with the great migration of Americans from the farm to the city, with the advances of technology, telephone, telegraph, manufacturing, building materials, and railways, subways.

Answer 3

Many of the established city folk with money and connections did not like the immigration, and believed that many immigrants were less than human, and alcohol led to crime and diviant behavior, including more sexual activity which led to "more of those kinds of people"

Many farmers who grew the crops that were used in the production of alcohol were in favor of keeping alcohol legal, voting their wallets, and their business.

Two other hot issues of the time were connected to prohibition politically, because typically they were shared interests that linked them together. The creation of the income tax, and women's sufferage. The latter was connected for the reasons stated above and the former because with the disaperence of tax revenue from the sale of alcohol, the government would need another source of revenue... here comes the IRS. NOT only did the country loose drinking for a bit, but THANK YOU WILSON for the IRS. Although it is almost imposible to imagine a modern state operating without the creation of an income tax, the possibility that a country could thrive with only tariffs and excise taxes as the United States did for around 150 years, would come to an end because of the politics of prohibition.

Answer 4

Thank you so much! This is absolutely perfect.

Answer 5

hello. Tell me a little about yourself.

Answer 6

It had much to do with nationality and immigration... xenophobia, or the fear of strange people, or imigrants, fueled much of the prohibition zealotry. This is clearly not morality that is derived from the "love thy neighbor" christian ethic, or morality, even though many of those for prohibition used this as the rational for their strong viewpoint.

Answer 7

My name is Jason. I am a History teacher currently looking for a job. I love talking and writing about history and am willing to help those willing to learn.

Answer 8

Thank you, Mr. Jason :) I am a sophomore in High School taking the IB program. This speech I am trying to wrap up at the moment is for my APUSH class. Thank you so much for your time and help; I wish you the best of luck finding a job :)

Answer 9

During the years leading up to World War I, the fact that German-Americans were good at brewing beer, and liked to drink beer, was a prime mover of political opinion. When a nation is at war, the populous will attack the enemy however it can, even if it is only a precieved enemy. Many of those German-Americans were patriotic Americans who did not support the nationalistic and expansionist policies of the fatherland, even if they spoke German at the dinner table. One effect of prohibition would be to hurt many of these people and to eliminate an economic advantage, to take money from them, to make it more difficult for Germans, both recent and possible immigrants, along with established German-Americans, to live in the US. This is political and social.

Answer 10

I have more, 15 more minutes, and you will kill him. Bad.

Answer 11

Alright! *waits with great anticipation* :D

Answer 12

Anti saloon league was established as a political force, to use political methods, to get people elected who agree with their mission, and to get those people to vote their way. This is political for obvious reasons, and as a counter to the fact that saloons, or bars, are clearly places where people gather, and ideas are exchanged. Any place where people meet, ideas are exchanged, especially in a democracy, can be a political force. Votes matter. Conections matter. Sometimes deep relationships can begin with a shared love... like having a drink, alcohol.

Answer 13

This group was Anti German. So like many political ideas, and many political organizations, one reason that is acceptable is used to shield another, more passionately held idea, that is offensive.

Answer 14

How am I doing so far? Is it acceptable? Can you think of a current political group that uses a reason that is acceptable to push an agenda, but you believe that many who want that agenda may actually have a less acceptable, or more offensive reason for wanting the agenda? I need your participation here.

Answer 15

What is your name? And what state are you in? I like to know who I am talking to.

Answer 16

I can give you some real important ones, that are likely used today, and some that were used in history, and if you really understand them, you will destroy your opponent in the debate. This is the key learning point to your debate question, its simply using the prohibiton situation to illustrate a principle. You have the stronger debate position, in my opinion. I dont believe you can lose if you do your part while your opponent could do everything correct and still only tie or loose.

Answer 17

Put the wood to your opponent tomorrow and let me know how it goes. But answer my question first. You MUST understand this principle. It is human nature. Are you a young man or woman? I am assuming man. So your a young dude. You want to go to the mall because... Katie the hot chick from 2nd hour is probably going to be there. You ask your parents if you can go. You might not lead with the reason that Katie is probably going to be there. Even though, there is no way you would even want to go to the mall if she wasnt going, you would rather be playing modern warfare or something.

Answer 18

SOOO you tell you parents that you need new shoes, even though you love your "kicks" and dont need new shoes. But Katie is so hot. Or whatever. It doesnt have to be about a hot girl it could be about wanting to hang out with a friend your parents dont like. Anything that you know could be taken several different ways. You must come up with an acceptable, even a good, reason. One you can sell.

Answer 19

Try these issues. Come up with the reason people use, and what may be the likely reason that is less acceptable. This is what modern politics is about. \

Abortion
Environmental Protection
Tax Rates
Unemployment Insurence extention
Building a fence on the border
Immigration Law reform

Always remember. Sometimes you do need a pair of shoes. There will always be those who are honest and have a pure heart and need a pair of shoes. In my opinion, there will always be far more others, this is an opinion of human nature, who just want to go to the mall to see Katie. This is a BIG life lesson. If you get this then you will win tomorrow. Big.

Answer 20

My name is Valentina, I am a female and I currently live in California (originally from Oregon). Your insight on this debate has enlightened me. GREATLY. Hmm.. a current political group... I haven't really dabbed into CURRENT events that I could include in my essay... I think that I have a much clearer understanding of where I should go with this debate now, thanks to you! Though I am not a "dude", I understand your point here :)

Answer 21

bortion...Started with simple birth control, which used to be illeagal. We dont even think about birth control today but it used to be considered immoral, evil. Planned Parenthood began, around the same time as Prohibition. In fact Planned Parenthood would have supported Prohibition. The founder was named Margaret Sanger. She was in favor of birth control. Why? She said society was rough... life was rough.. and we should only bring into being those we could take care of as a society. Sounds reasonable? A reason that she could sell.

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Answer 22

Abortion...Started with simple birth control, which used to be illeagal. We dont even think about birth control today but it used to be considered immoral, evil. Planned Parenthood began, around the same time as Prohibition. In fact Planned Parenthood would have supported Prohibition. The founder was named Margaret Sanger. She was in favor of birth control. Why? She said society was rough... life was rough.. and we should only bring into being those we could take care of as a society. Sounds reasonable? A reason that she could sell.

Answer 23

What was her real reason. This we know for sure, from her writings and from those whose ideas she shared and those who reported speaking to her about them. See most of the most important figures in history are about ideas. Ideas matter. They change the world. They affect people, lives, how large groups live, and how individuals live. But usually history is changed by an individual, and then it affects the masses. Her reason.. racism. She did not like black people. She thought they were less than human. She believed that most of them were damaging America.

Answer 24

She believed if she could simply find a way that they could have sexual relationships, which was probably unavoidable, but not reproduce at as high a rate as "the" were, or at all, then the black population could be reduced or eliminated. With this change she believed that America would become more "pure", there would be less crime, and America would become a better, more holy nation. So she couldn't sell birth control by saying that Blacks, and other dirty immigrants were ruining America so lets find a way they could have sexual relations without serious consequences in the population mixture, and then America would be better. NO WAY. So she used the acceptable reason. Use this as another example of the common political TACTIC (use the word) or disguising a passionate reason that is unacceptable with a more politically acceptable, or in this democracy... a more POPULAR reason, for the change. See there were certain groups that she could say out loud that she hated blacks and that they along with the Irish were destroying America. And in 1914, it was easier to say different things to different groups of people.

Answer 25

How old are you? Is this over your head? What grade is this for? What class is this for?

Answer 26

Because the newspaper was the only real medium or way that information was spread to the larger public, to the people, the writers and publishers of newspapers were very powerful. They controlled what the masses heard, what they believed was true, by what they printed. UNLESS the reader was smart enough to weigh, or to question, everything that he or in your case she read. This is my most important message to YOU tonight. THINK. QUESTION WHAT YOU READ AND HEAR. DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING ANYONE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE. BE SMART. BE EDUCATED. THINK. IF YOU DONT THINK FOR YOURSELF THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WILLING TO THINK FOR YOU. HITLER, SANGER, STALIN, IDEAS.

Dont ignore, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. THOMAS JEFFERSON, HAMILTON, WASHINGTON, EMERSON, HAYAK, SOWELL and others who have great ideas.

But the world is dangerous and wonderful. Think for yourself.

Answer 27

So the newspapers could and often did report things that they knew would be acceptable to their readers. So if a newspaper didnt like blacks also, it might not print the most offensive of her comments. Only those reasons that the moderate, or middle American, would agree with, not those that he would reject. In this way the media is part of the political process. With the invention of the internet, it is more and more difficult to do anything without being recognized and having it reported. This has it pluses and minus, pros and cons. CAN YOU think of 2 pros and 2 cons of this change?

Answer 28

I am 15... unfortunately, at this late of an hour, I am barely grasping the concept of what you are trying to tell me here... I am currently a sophomore. This debate is for APUSH (Advanced Placement U.S. History). This is the basis of what I was going to focus on during the debate: the ATS concentrated its efforts on the governing bodies of various Protestant denominations. Their attempts were met with indifferent success. The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for example, condemned and I quote, “the pestilential example of temperate drinking" but only questioned if churches which tolerated manufacturers and sellers of whiskey could be innocent of wrongdoing.... it basically shows how if leaders of this movement (like the ATS) could barely get support from churches, then why should the reform be considered to be primarily motivated by religious moralism? Am I on the right track? I like your insight on how it had much to do with nationality and immigration.

Answer 29

Haha! "If you don't think there will always be someone thinking for you.. Hitler, Stalin.." This is SO true... to bad not many people care to grasp that concept these days... but hey, history is always bound to repeat itself, right? x)

Answer 30

no it does not repeat itself. I used to say that too
Then I studied. Things are always the same, but they are ALWAYS different. People are people and the study of history is the study of people, and THAT is always the same.

Answer 31

Things will always change. People will always like to eat, and make love, and be loved, and get angry and want more.

Answer 32

Pros: Peoples' ideas can flow more freely because of the internet and such... people are listening and seeing these ideas (whether the "moderate American" agrees with them or not).
Cons: Because these ideas flow freely now, many have resorted to slacking off and actually letting others think for themselves... they do not take to much of anything seriously anymore (they now involve themselves with things such as MTV, fashion, the latest updates on favorite movie-stars..)

Answer 33

Hmm.. that's an interesting spin on it...

Answer 34

You are develping your view of human nature. I will not tell you what you should believe. But I like to help student learn enough to draw some conclusions.. to think.

Churchill, Winston... one of the most important men of the 20th century and perhaps ever is quoted, a man who saved Britain during wwII, would not allow them to give up and completely understood the dangers of Hitler during a very difficult time in human history, is considered a conservative icon. Conservative in his viewpoint of human nature, more like Thomas Hobbes. Life is tough, short, butish. Man is not to be trusted with Power.

He is quoted as saying "show me a young man(or woman) who is not a liberal and I will show you a man(or woman) without a heart
Show me an older man who is not a conservative and I will show you a man without a brain.

Remember this quote. Think about it as you study history.

BTW. I got a 5 on AP History in High School. It is hard to do. I can help you get one also if you want to work for it. But you will have to work.

Answer 35

Good start with your response. But I want you to focus on the internet as a source of information. All thinking starts with some input, some information. Correct? We see things, we hear things we think. True or not. What we see and hear we are PERCIEVING. Question for thought. Is reality real... or is it just what you BELIEVE is real is REAL. Kind of like the MATRIX, the movie, right? SEE IT IF YOU HAVENT. This is what is called a digression. Something worth speaking about and thinking about but we have more important things at 1210am on Sunday night. So let me sum up what I believe you should focus upon tomorrow. I dont really like your main focus. I believe you are missing the objective of the question. read the question again. then define the terms so you know that you understand the question.

Rule number one to test taking. UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. It does no good to answer the question if you are not answering the question that is really being asked. So are you prepared to answer the question being asked?

Answer 36

Thank you for that (regarding "you are developing your view of human nature")... this has been a very beneficial conversation...

Interesting quote... wow... did you memorize it? :)

*jaw drops* Really?! APUSH really IS very grueling... it is probably one of the first major wake-up-calls in high school for me x)... I am DEFINITELY willing to work for it; my goal is to get straight A's right now (colleges are already looking at my grades... very stressful time for me right now x). Thank you SO much for your time and help; it is GREATLY appreciated.

Answer 37

Thank you (regarding the good start to my response). Haha!... "we have more important things at 1210am on Sunday night." x)

I am? What would you suggest my main focus be, then? I thought I understood the question...

Answer 38

You are welcome. This is my passion. Teaching and History. Really. I love to help any student who wants to learn and accomplish things and think. Yes I memorized it. So do you consider yourself a liberal or a conservative? You will need to understand the evolution of these ideologies in American History by the time the test rolls around. and you have homework. I want you to watch a half hour of news.. every day... and on a different network.. until you have sampled each network, both cable and national network television news 3 times.. keep track of your sampling. Listen and think. Dont believe everything you hear...

ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF about anyone, everyone. Why

Why are they telling me this?
Why is this considered important?
Is this important to me.. really>
and most important

What does he/she want me to believe?
In other words what is being sold to me.
You are always being sold something.

Answer 39

If I ask a question please try and answer it. It is still the best way to learn.

So if there is a ? mark direct at you... I want an answer. something.. Anything. With this medium ignoring is acceptable, sometimes unintentional.

This is a rule I am instituting for our communication, if acceptable to you, since I have no power here. Question... deserves and answer. For both of us.

Go back and read what I wrote. Find the ? Answer the questions.

Answer 40

What are the key terms in the question?
Define these key terms?

Answer 41

I would consider myself a conservative... You?

Yessir. (regarding, "If I ask a question please try and answer it.")

Sorry to cut our convo short, but do you mind if I get back to you tomorrow after school? (I really need some sleep for tomorrow...tests, quizzes, speech... I have to wake up in less than five hours..)

Answer 42

no I do not mind, I am prone to digression, I have much I would like to write about but I must make sure you mash tomorrow and I fear you are just missing the point of this assignment currently. B- work and if your opponent is good you will loose, and maybe get crushed. I would hate to see that especially since it is unneccessary

Answer 43

Have the info that I have typed previously.. cut and paste it and print it. The stuff on the POLITICAL stuff and the SANGER example are huge ways to show that it is not only or even primarily a moral issue, this prohibition.

Answer 44

Terms: POLITICAL< SOCIAL< RELIGIOUS MORALISM Would like you to define, but its late.
These are persitant themes in history.. because they are about aspects of what it is to be human.
Humans are social creatures. How do we get together with other people. In private, or in the circles we love... care about.. that is SOCIAL. FAMILY, CHURCH AS A CONNECTION NOT A BELIEF, SCHOOL, SPORTS, ACTIVITIES, DRINKING IS AN ACTIVITY.

Answer 45

Should I include the parts where you mention, "During the years leading up to World War I, the fact that German-Americans were good at brewing beer..." I'm not sure if my teacher would consider me to be going a little off topic or not...

Answer 46

POLITICAL... GROUPING OF PEOPLE WE DO NOT NECCESARILY CARE ABOUT, BUT WE MUST GET ALONG WITH. NEIGHBORS. FRIENDS OF FRIENDS. BOSSES. BOSSES BOSSES. PEOPLE WHO RUN BUSINESSES WE FREQUENT OR COMPETE WITH. USUALLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO BY PROXIMITY... THEY LIVE AROUND US.. WE MUST DEAL WITH. AND THERE IS a scarcity of power. only so much. Someone must decide the rules we live by as a large group of people and the world of politics is the METHOD in which we decide these issues. So Politics is a two part deffinition with a denotation of Method and a conotation. (another important discussion we could have about your education, denotation v conotation and the imporance and use of both)

Answer 47

That is exactly on topic... according to the question. Now as a warning... you know your teacher better than I. Let me finish the above. Do you have any direct questions or something you are uncomfortable or dont agree with what I wrote. Remember.. think and question. That is what is important. even, especially.. me.

Answer 48

Politics is about another P word. Simply. POWER. Who has it? How are they given it? How are the rules decided?

Answer 49

Oh, okay! I just wanted to make sure that there would be no chance of my teacher questioning anything... that was about the only thing I felt uncomfortable with (I'm rereading everything you wrote)... thank you :)

Answer 50

Very important in American history. Since the country was built as a REPUBLIC to be ran with DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, not a democracy, according to the constitution, but that is for another day, every issue you discuss in AMERICAN HISTORY SHOULD BE EXAMINED under the political microscope. How does Politics affect x? How does the event affect Politics? Peoples viewpoints are vital in America because of the way we decide things. People vote. So Politics in America is about the constitutions, both state and federal, small local government, and big national government, or the RULES OF THE MACHINES OF GOVERNMENT.. AND those who act upon the machine, the players who play by the rules, the people who vote, WHY AND HOW THEY VOTE, AND THOSE THEY ELECT, AND HOW AND WHY THOSE WHO ARE "IN POWER" CONGRESSMEN SENATORS AND PRESIDENTS MAKE DECISIONS. In a

Answer 51

Wow... that is definitely something to analyze later on... (sorry my responses aren't all that great right now, by the way... my eyelids are literally closing on me ):

Answer 52

IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE OF A DEBATE ASK YOUR OPPONENT TO DEFINE THESE TERMS. IF HE USES DEFINITIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE. SOCIAL.. FAMILY... WHAT PEOPLE LOVE AND HATE... RACISM... HOW PEOPLE BOND... HOW THEY HATE.. THINK OF HIGH SCHOOL... THE KIDS IS SOCIAL.... AND POLITICAL... POWER... AND ALSO RULES... BOTH (I WOULD USE THIS ) THE MACHINE OF GOVERNMENT... RULES THAT GOVERN USE OF POWER.. AND THE THOSE WHO RUN THE MACHINE.. THOSE GIVEN THE POWER TO ACT WITHIN THE MACHINE.. BY THE RULES

Answer 53

If you MAKE your opponent define everything... then you show how smart you are by actually agreeing with good defs or defining yourself.. then you have him. The facts I have given you show that it was not only about RELIGIOUS MORALISM(defined by right and wrong.. determined mostly at that time by the Jedeo-Christian ethic, as its termed, America being a primarly Protestant country for many many years,

Answer 54

You should sleep. I will leave some more thoughts about your opponents strongest play, if he or she is good. are you afraid of he she? are you confident? What are your goals? What do you want to be when you grow up? If you are serious I will help you. And love every minute. I am a teacher. Getting paid is optional. But it is your choice if you wish to work with me. Let me know. If the answer is yes then I expect you to do your homework and start learning about current events and experiencing news media. What is happening today is history tomorrrow and you are missing it. Its like Ferris Bueller. The world moves pretty fast. If you close your eyes( which you should be doing) you might miss it. Good night. It was nice to meet you and work with you.

Answer 55

I will get back to those questions tomorrow right after school and golf practice! Nice meeting you too; it was a pleasure talking to you. Don't worry, I'll do my homework :) Thank you, again, and good night :)

Answer 56

Now if I am you opponent, it again comes down to definitions. Using my definitions of Politics, which is great.. I hope you understand it but if you do not you will. The constitution is the rulebook of the government in America. In it you have in three Articles and 27 amendments or changes the way things are supposed to go in America. How do we resolve disagreements? Like alcohol and the freedom to drink if you want, even if it is not in society, or the larger groups best interest that you drink, because you drink too much and your family starves and needs help sometimes because you drink too much... how do we decide which of our values win if there is a conflict. FREEDOM v RESPONSEABILITY DOES THE FEDERAL OR BIG GOVERNMENT WIN IF IN CONFLICT WITH THE STATE, LIKE THE STATE OF COLORADO OR OREGON FOR INSTANCE? THERE ARE SEVERAL BIG IDEAS LIKE THIS. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS COMPLICATED, ESPECIALLY IN AMERICA. OFTEN IT IS.

Answer 57

You are welcome.. It has been my pleasure. I love golf. I stink but I do love it. So we have that in common. History and writing is like golf in that you need to spend time with it to get better. if you are willing to read and talk about these big ideas you will be in the 1% that really matters most, the thinking 1%. (extra credit if you find out from the news why I used 1%.. there is a reason.) You must be a bit lonely as a CONSERVATIVE in Oregon, as a state anyway. I have no idea what community you live in, no doubt there are conservative ENCLAVES within the LIBERAL state of Oregon.

RULE 2: ANYTHING IN ALL CAPS IS IMPORTANT. REREAD AND IF IT IS A TERM, A ONE OR TWO WORD IDEA, A PERSONS OR FIGURE'S NAME OR PLACE OR EVENT OR GOVERNMENTAL TERM THEN WRITE IT DOWN IN A NOTEBOOK THAT YOU HAVE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR CONVERSATIONS. PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS IN YOUR CLASS THAT THEY ARE FREE TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATIONS ALSO.

I know what it takes to get a 5 on that test. It is very difficult. But, I can coach anyone who will work to get a 5. I still consider that 5 one of the most defining acomplishments of my life. I would love to share that with others, to show any student who want to learn and work hard how to study, to write, to think, and I focus on history and government and the study of human nature.

So again, PLEASE tell everyone, including your teacher, to join us if they wish to. I am sure your teacher is good, perhaps real good, even excellent, but no one can now all history and so much of history study is about perspective. That is one of the key things I was talking about earlier. Who a person is, the total of her experiences, the things she has experienced, her age, her religion, values, beliefs, what she has seen and heard, what she has learned and the people she knows, the sum total of them all, all of them affect perspective. And perspective will affect opinion.

History is much more an art than a science. There are "facts" but it is the interpretatation of these facts that matter. That is part of the THINKING i was talking about earlier. So, to review, the sex, religion, nationality, or the answers to the big 5 QUESTIONS greatly influence perspective. WHO IS IT? WHAT HAPPENED? WHY DID IT HAPPEN? WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN? These are the so-called facts of any event. History is a series of events. However, the primary difference in journalism and history, at least in the eye of the novice, or the student, is that history has happened already, in the past. We are supposed to know more about what has already happened, and we are supposed to be able to make sense of the 5 questions again, asked a second time upon the same event(s) but put into a perspective of also knowing how much of the so-called history, turns out. We know the ending of much of history... now. We know the CAUSE AND EFFECTS, (a BIG THEME IN HISTORY that you will be able to talk about with every major WAR, ECONOMIC advance or decline, TECHNOLOGICAL advance, SOCIAL and or RELIGIOUS movements, shifts in POLITICAL POWER,) However even with the advantage of "knowing the ending" first, knowing where we are, learning how we got here still is filled with disagreement and interpretation of so many things.

Answer 58

I hope you did well in your debate. I would love to hear about how it went.