Carrie Nation

Carrie Nation (1846 – 1911) was a prominent American temperance advocate known for her radical actions against alcohol during the early 20th century. Nation gained notoriety for using a hatchet to destroy saloons as part of her fight against alcohol.

Early Life

Carrie Amelia Moore was born on November 25, 1846, in Garrard County, Kentucky. She was the first of six children born to George and Mary Moore. Her family moved to Missouri in 1854, where she was raised.

Marriage and Family

In 1867, she married Charles Gloyd, a physician and severe alcoholic. Their marriage was short-lived due to Gloyd's alcoholism, and they had one daughter. In 1874, she married David Nation, a lawyer, journalist, and minister.

Temperance Activism

Carrie Nation began her temperance work in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where her husband served as a minister. She started by praying in local saloons, hoping to discourage patrons from consuming alcohol. However, her methods escalated, and she became known for her tactic of smashing saloon fixtures and stock with a hatchet.

Legacy

Carrie Nation's radical methods brought significant attention to the temperance movement. Her actions were a precursor to the Prohibition era, which saw the banning of the sale, production, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933.

Death

Nation died on June 9, 1911, in Leavenworth, Kansas. She is buried in an unmarked grave in Belton City Cemetery in Belton, Missouri.

See Also

• Temperance movement in the United States
• Prohibition in the United States
• Women's Christian Temperance Union

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