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Courts And Temperance “Ladies”, Richard H. Chused

Articles & Chapters

In 1873 and 1874, parts of southern Ohio were gripped by a remarkable string of marches, religious gatherings, and sit-ins by conservative, Christian, white women intent on shutting down the distribution of alcohol in their communities. A fascinating series of issues relating to the use of legal institutions to control these demonstrative women arose during these "temperance crusades." Many women in Hillsboro opposed using available legal avenues to suppress the liquor trade, preferring strategies based on moral suasion. But, as with other major controversies in our history, aspects of the temperance crusade ended up in court despite the desires of …