Hello friends, welcome! I am so glad to have you here today. We're going to talk about

a little movement that began brewing in the 19th century. And that pond was intended,

because many Americans have long enjoyed the pastime of drinking. In fact, for the late

1800s, Americans were drinking three times the amount of alcohol we consumed today. Let

that sink in for a second. People were seriously drinking massive quantities of alcohol. And

even though most beer was less potent than it is today, it was common for people to drink

during every meal. And for any occasion, drinking was truly a cornerstone of American culture.

But not everyone was a fan. Some people particularly women were concerned about its harmful effects

on families and communities. So let's dive in. And let's talk about the early rise of the

temperance movement in America. I'm Sharon McMan, and here's where it gets interesting.

On a chilly January night in 1901, a group of men sat in a Kansas saloon over their mugs of

ale and whiskey. When out of the blue, an older woman caught them all by surprise. She burst

through the doors and made a beeline for the bar, smashing every bottle of liquor she could

get her hands on. The men recovered from their shot quickly. They had heard about this whirlwind,

destructive woman. Her name was Carrie Nation. And for weeks, she had been busting up bars all over

the state of Kansas. Her antics made headlines. All right, her in the weekly clarion ledger didn't

mince words saying Mrs. Carrie Nation is giving the saloon people of Kansas a great deal of trouble. She

has entered several saloons and failing to induce the proprietors to close them proceeded to smash

the whiskey bottles and glasses. She sometimes arrested, but this is not deterred her. She is still

on the warpath and the report comes that the saloon men are preparing to barricade their doors on

her approach. All are afraid of her.

This Christmas, discover the Whitney Houston story you never knew.

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