Which organization formed in 1874 promoted total abstinence from alcohol—the Temperance Society or the Salvation Army?

Here's a quick map before we dive in: this question sits at the crossroads of Period 6 reform movements. It asks about a group formed in 1874 that called for total abstinence from alcohol. The nuance matters, because the temperance landscape wasn’t a single organization with a single motto—it was a storm of groups, ideas, and tactics that overlapped and sometimes competed with each other.

What the question is really getting at

• In the late 19th century, reform-minded Americans organized around temperance as a way to address social ills linked to alcohol. Think of it as a social-justice movement with a moral compass.

• The “1874” marker is a clue. In that year, one of the most influential temperance bodies in the United States was formed: a women's organization that pushed for abstinence and, over time, connected with broader political goals like suffrage.

• The other options—Salvation Army, Women’s Suffrage Movement, National Temperance League—are all real players in the wider reform era, but they don’t fit the specific 1874 abstinence-focused badge as cleanly as the temperance group formed that year.

The temperance moment in Period 6

Let me explain the broader backdrop. After the Civil War, America faced rapid growth, urbanization, and social changes that brought both opportunity and strain. Alcohol was perceived by many reformers as a root cause of poverty, domestic violence, and crime. Organizations sprang up to promote sobriety, educate the public, and push for laws that would curb drinking. It wasn’t just about saying “no” to alcohol; it was about reshaping communities, family life, and even political power.

The 1874 formation you’re looking for

• The group formed in 1874 that advocated total abstinence from alcohol is commonly tied to a female-led temperance movement that organized around the idea that women and families stood to gain the most from alcohol abstinence. In many history glosses, this is connected to what you’d call a “temperance society” or, more precisely, to the broader temperance movement that culminated in a powerful women’s wing.

• The exact name you’ll see in APUSH-centered materials can vary, but the core idea is this: a temperance organization established in 1874 that pressed for complete abstinence. That’s distinct from other reform groups of the era.

• In practice, this means the 1874 group is best understood as part of the larger temperance movement, with a particular emphasis on total abstinence. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) becomes a touchstone in many courses and texts, because it embodies that 1874 moment, even though it’s often discussed in its own right as a major force in both temperance and women’s rights.

Why the other options aren’t the best fit for this exact prompt

• Salvation Army: A formidable social-reform and religious organization founded in 1865. It did advocate for sober living as part of its ethical code and helped the poor, but its primary mission wasn’t “advocacy for total abstinence” as the singular defining goal. It’s a broader Christian charity movement, not the 1874 abstinence-focused birth date you’re looking for.

• Women’s Suffrage Movement: This was about voting rights for women and political participation—vital and transformative, no doubt—but abstinence from alcohol wasn’t its defining campaign, at least not in a way that would mark its birth in 1874.

• National Temperance League: This is a temperance organization too, but the date and scope don’t align with the 1874 abstinence formation that this question highlights. It’s part of the temperance world, yet not the specific 1874 marker you’re being tested on.

Putting it in context: why this matters for Period 6

• The temperance question isn’t just about a single club; it signals how reform movements intersected with gender, religion, and politics. The WCTU and similar groups didn’t just push for laws about alcohol—they mobilized women as voters, organizers, and social reformers. That’s a thread that weaves into the broader arc of the era: the rise of Progressive Era activism, the push for social welfare policies, and the long road toward Prohibition decades later.

• When you see a multiple-choice question like this, it helps to think not just about the name of an organization, but about what it stood for and what it hoped to change. Was it about abstinence as a personal virtue? Was it about policy? Was it part of a larger wave of women’s civic engagement? These angles matter for understanding the period as a whole.

A quick, friendly refresher on key players

• The Temperance Movement (broad): A patchwork of societies, clubs, and campaigns targeting alcohol use as a social ill. Often associated with moral suasion, lectures, and petitions.

• The 1874 group (the focal point here): A temperance organization formed in 1874 that urged total abstinence. In many histories, this is tied to the rise of women-led temperance activism, setting the stage for more formal movements like the WCTU.

• The Salvation Army: A global church-based charity founded earlier, known for social relief work. It’s emblematic of 19th-century reform networks but not defined by a singular abstinence-branding campaign in the way the 1874 group is.

• The suffrage movement: A parallel stream of reform, growing stronger through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which sometimes intersected with temperance activism—after all, many suffragists supported broader social reform, including temperance.

• The National Temperance League: Part of the international temperance conversation, with its own timeline and focus. It’s a piece of the broader mosaic, not the exact 1874 birth that your question highlights.

Why this nuance matters when you read primary sources

• You’ll encounter sources from local temperance societies, national unions, personal diaries, and newspaper editorials. Some will highlight abstinence as a personal creed; others will frame it as a path to social reform or family stability. The date can be the clue, but the content is driving the story.

• If a document mentions 1874 and abstinence, expect to hear about organized women’s activism and community networks. If it emphasizes religious outreach or charitable work more than abstinence per se, you’re probably looking at the Salvation Army or a broader reform narrative.

How to approach similar questions on the fly

• Look for the core claim: What did the organization advocate most strongly? Was abstinence the central goal, or a broader mission like charity, suffrage, or religious outreach?

• Note the date: 1874 is a strong hint for the rise of women-led temperance activism in the United States.

• Consider the scope: Is the organization national in scope, or a local society? The answer often hinges on whether the source emphasizes a national movement or a regional group.

• Connect to the bigger picture: How does this fit into the arc from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age? Think about how reform movements intersect and reinforce each other.

Wrapping it up

So, the organization formed in 1874 that advocated total abstinence from alcohol is best understood as part of the temperance movement, with a strong note on women-led activism. In many classrooms and texts, you’ll see this linked to a prominent group formed that year—often discussed in connection with the temperance cause and the broader push for social reform that defined Period 6. The Salvation Army, while pivotal in its own right, wasn’t the product of that exact 1874 dating and had a broader mandate beyond abstinence alone.

If you’re ever unsure in a quiz, a simple yardstick helps: what did the group primarily champion? If the answer emphasizes abstinence as a policy or personal standard and ties to 1874, you’re likely in the right neighborhood of the temperance story. And if you want to see how that thread unspooled into national policy and Prohibition later on, you’ll find plenty of room to explore—from local temperance chapters to national debates about alcohol, morality, and governance.

And hey, while we’re wandering these halls of history, it’s pretty satisfying to realize how a single date—1874—can open a doorway into rooms full of women organizers, religious reformers, and ordinary people trying to make sense of a rapidly changing America. It’s one of those small details that, stitched together with other events, gives us a vivid picture of period 6 America: ambitious, messy, and ever so human.