Carry Amelia Moore Nation (1846-1911) was an American social activist and temperance advocate known for her passionate and often aggressive campaigns against the consumption of alcohol. Born in Kentucky, Nation experienced firsthand the devastating effects of alcohol abuse on her family, as her first husband died due to alcohol-related causes.
Nation became a prominent figure in the temperance movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She believed that alcohol was the root cause of many social problems, including domestic abuse, poverty, and crime. Nation utilized unconventional methods, often resorting to vandalism and destruction of alcohol-serving establishments such as saloons, hatchets being her weapon of choice. This earned her the nickname "Hatchetations," underlining the fervor with which she pursued her cause.
Her activism included delivering powerful speeches, publishing writings, and lobbying for legislation promoting temperance. Nation's charisma and distinctive appearance, often dressed in black and white clothes, a bonnet, and carrying a hatchet, made her a symbol of the temperance movement and gained her considerable attention. Although her methods were controversial and sometimes resulted in her arrest, she was widely admired by many temperance advocates for her unwavering dedication to the cause.
Carry Amelia Moore Nation's relentless advocacy contributed to the eventual success of the temperance movement in the United States, culminating in the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. Her efforts also paved the way for the establishment of the Prohibition era (1920-1933) in the United States, during which the consumption of alcohol was illegalized. Carry Amelia Moore Nation's name became synonymous with the fight against alcohol abuse and her legacy continued to inspire many future generations of
