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Carry Amelia Moore was born in Garrard County, Ky., on Nov. 25, 1846. Her family moved several times before settling in Cass County, Mo.  

Carry Amelia Moore was born in Garrard County, Ky., on Nov. 25, 1846. Her family moved several times before settling in Cass County, Mo.  

Although her father signed her name as "Carry" Amelia Moore in the family Bible, she used the spelling "Carrie" through much of her life. She reverted to "Carry" to help promote her temperance activities.

Although her father signed her name as "Carry" Amelia Moore in the family Bible, she used the spelling "Carrie" through much of her life. She reverted to "Carry" to help promote her temperance activities. (1)

In 1880, Kansas became the first state adopt a constitutional amendment banning alcoholic beverages. However, the law was not always enforced.

In 1880, Kansas became the first state adopt a constitutional amendment banning alcoholic beverages. In her autobiography's 1905 revised edition, "The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation," Nation said there was a "crisis" of enforcement of prohibition laws. (2)

 

The frustrated reformer turned to the hatchet. As astonished bartenders and patrons watched, Nation entered a saloon and smashed. She later wrote in her autobiography, "The first smashing was like the opening of a battle. The crashing glass sent a thrill through the community and resounded o'er the land a talisman of destruction to the liquor traffic. It set everybody to talking, even the public school children and students in all the higher institutions were profoundly interested. The press and the pulpit broke their silence and from all over the state came the echo. It was the firing of the signal guns."

Two online exhibits have been developed by the Kansas Museum of History:

Two online exhibits have been developed by the Kansas Museum of History:

1. Kansas Historical Society, http://www.kshs.org/exhibits/carry/carry1.htm

1. Kansas Historical Society, http://www.kshs.org/exhibits/carry/carry1.htm

2. Arkansas Department of Heritage

2. "The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation," 1905 revised edition, Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1485/pg1485.html

3. Arkansas Department of Heritage