During the Temperance Movement, children
possessed several roles. They were expected to be the next generation
of completely sober individuals. Children were preached to that
an adult who did not sign the pledge was an abusive parent. Children
were also expected to participate in the Temperance Movement itself.
Children did this by handing out pamphlets and trying to plead
with their parents to sign the pledge. Children were also encouraged
to start their own Temperance societies. However, one major aspect
of children in the Temperance Movement was the role in which the
adults placed them. Children were illustrated as "saviors"
sent from God to save their parents from sin. These roles of children
can be seen in the children's literature from the 1850s.
