Frances Willard And Woman Temperance Movement In America

In the latter period of the 19^th-century, American women pursued rights by various social movements, the temperance was one of the last and influential one. This thesis chooses Frances Willard as a case, who was the core figure in American woman temperance movement in the 19^th-century. Discussing from the social background, especially the doctrine of spheres about sexes relationship, this thesis analyses the characteristic of the woman temperance movement under Willard's leadership, and tries to discuss how women uncovered their privileges both in moral and sex, and made use of it under the limit of the doctrine of spheres.The thesis has five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction which gives a study survey, then some explanations to a few key concepts. The second chapter discusses the doctrine of spheres in the 19^th-century, its influences on women and the relationship between women and the temperance. The discussion aims to explain the background of times and social environments. The third chapter exams Willard's family background, her childhood and experience before engaging in woman temperance movement. The forth chapter discusses "Home Protection" thought and "Do Everything" policy, analyzing the characteristic of her temperance activities and pointing that Willard offered women a moderate and acceptable method for claiming women's rights. The last chapter makes a further thought and discussion about the problem originating in Willard's temperance activities.This research not only provides a new point to observe women's activities in claiming their rights, but also inspires further thought of sex role and division of labor in America society.