What was the focus of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) founded in 1874?

• A. Promoting women's suffrage
• B. Advocating for the prohibition of alcohol
• C. Supporting public education
• D. Fighting for labor rights

Answer: (B)

The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1874, primarily focused on advocating for the prohibition of alcohol. This organization emerged as a powerful social reform movement in the United States during the late 19th century. The members of the WCTU believed that alcohol consumption was a significant cause of societal problems, such as domestic violence, poverty, and crime. Through their campaigns, the WCTU aimed not only to eliminate alcohol from society but also to promote moral values and the health of families.

While the WCTU did engage in broader social issues over time, including women's suffrage and labor rights, its core mission centered on temperance. The organization's persistent efforts contributed to the eventual passage of the 18th Amendment, which instituted Prohibition in 1920. Understanding this context underscores why advocating for the prohibition of alcohol is accurately recognized as the main focus of the WCTU during the Gilded Age.