Woman's Christian Temperance Union

An association of women formed in the United States in 1874, for the advancement of temperance by organizing preventive, educational, evangelistic, social, and legal work. It is also known as the Women's Christian Temperance Union and by its acronym WCTU or W.C.T.U.. It was one of the political forces leading to passage of the constitutional amendment, later repealed, which prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union

(WCTU), organization that seeks to upgrade moral life, especially through abstinence from alcohol. The National WCTU of the United States was founded (1874) in Cleveland, Ohio, as a result of the Woman's Temperance Crusade that spread through the Midwest at that time. Frances WillardWillard, Frances Elizabeth,
1839–98, American temperance leader and reformer, b. Churchville, N.Y., grad. Northwestern Female College, 1859. She was president of Evanston College for Ladies and dean of women at Northwestern Univ.
..... Click the link for more information. , the group's second president (1879–98), was responsible for the organization (1883) of the World WCTU. The organization has worked for public education against the use of alcohol and for legislation to prohibit its sale. It has also supported research and education concerning tobacco, narcotics, and other potentially dangerous drugs. The National WCTU currently has 5,000 members. Its official organ is the weekly Union Signal.

Woman’s Christian Temperance Union

society of militant housewives against drinking (20th century). [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 357]See: Temperance