The Gilded Age Season 3’s Temperance Movement explained: Why did Ada join the cause?

In The Gilded Age Season 3, Ada’s embrace of the temperance movement is both historically accurate and dramatically rich. The temperance movement was a major moral and political campaign that happened in the 19th century, calling for limiting or banning the use of alcohol. While Ada cherishes the movement, Aunt Agnes is more keen towards gaining the women's right to vote, which would have a lasting positive impact.

The Van Rhijn household faces major upheaval after Oscar Van Rhijn is conned. This causes Aunt Agnes to lose all the family fortune. Contrastingly, Ada learns about her husband's hidden wealth and gradually takes control over the house finances.

So while Ada’s cause seems sweet and well-intentioned, it is rooted in a movement that would eventually spark major social chaos. This becomes the root cause for a lot of drama in The Gilded Age Season 3 involving Aunt Agnes as well.

Read on to know more about the Temperance movement and why Ada joined it.

Here is what the Temperance Movement is, as shown in The Gilded Age Season 3

Temperance Movemement ultimately led to the nationwide prohibition of alcohol in the US. This led to a further rise in organised crime as gangs took over alcohol distribution, leading to violent turf wars and widespread illegal drinking. People were drinking more dangerously and secretly, and that too was served with poorly made alcohol. This is something Ada isn't aware of.

Supporters of the movement believed alcohol caused health problems, domestic violence, crime, and overall societal decay. It was supported by women of high society during the 1870s - 90s. In 1920, alcohol was banned nationwide. After the surge in crime rates, it ended in 1933, stating that this ban only made things worse.

Why did Ada join the Temperance Movement in The Gilded Age?

Aunt Ada, being a gentle, devout Christian woman in The Gilded Age, fits the profile of the ideal temperance advocate — kind-hearted, concerned for people’s souls, and eager to do good. Moreover, it was also personal for her after the tragic death of Reverend Luke Forte, with whom she was in love in season 2. She sees this as a way to find some purpose in grief, valuing his beliefs.

Hosting a temperance fundraiser is her way of taking control now that she has the financial reins, but it also reveals her values that she sees alcohol as a moral danger and wants to “save” people from it. According to a report by Decider, the actress who plays Ada said:

"Ada is a very ardent Christian, and if she believes that drinking is a sin, she believes all these people are going to hell, and she wants to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Cynthia Nixon.

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Like a typical church follower, she sees Temperance as the ideal cause for the poor and wants to do good. Moreover, it also makes moral sense to eliminate suffering by eliminating alcohol. But in reality, banning alcohol would fuel the underground crime and violence. People drinking without regulation is something even more dangerous than consuming a standard quality and limited amount of alcohol provided by state-controlled shops.

Meanwhile, Aunt Agnes and the rest of the Van Rhijns — more politically and socially astute — see the bigger picture in The Gilded Age. They understand the long-term ripple effects that Ada, for all her kind heart, simply isn’t equipped to predict.

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