In the beginning, the goal of the Temperance Movement was to encourage people to remain sober and practice moderation in the use and consumption of alcohol. Later, it began to encourage total abstinence and evolve to be seen as a way to establish self-respect, self-control, and other improvements in society's morals (Brown). It was also seen as a step towards increasing the standards of the lower classes. This led the Temperance Movement to primarily target the working class, encouraging them to strive for goals involving increasing their economic and social standards of living.

Before the nineteenth century, wine was religiously served at dinners and events held by families of the upper class. Lower classes also consumed alcohol, mainly beer and cider, in their own social gatherings. However, by the time of the nineteenth century, the consumption of alcohol was depicted as a cavalier and immoral model of entertainment...