Through out the mid 1800’s American drinking had begun to reach an all time high. In 1790 Americans on average would drink five gallons of spirits per year, but by 1830 the average had almost doubled to nine and a half gallons. (Sissmondo, 125) America was starting to be known as being “drunk as a beggar.” This was in part because grog shops, saloons, and taverns were controlled by public offices and acted as voting blocs. There had also been a massive wave of Irish and German Catholic immigration. However, even with the massive wave of drinking came a reform from Maine instituting a prohibition on alcohol. There were those who were against the consumption of alcohol known as the Know-Nothings and then there were the Democrats who were known for “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.” In 1838 Boston continued on the path of trying to improve the nations drinking habits by coming up with a law to try to deter people from drinking as much. This law stated that it was illegal to sell spirits in quantities under fifteen gallons. This created an immense amount of opposition because it was seen as an attack on the poor because the rich would be able to buy fifteen gallons at a time, but the poor were unable to buy that much at one time. Tavern owners found a way around this law by allowing patrons to by the fifteen gallons of spirits as well as one drink and then they would be able to return the fifteen gallons after they finished their drink. Another way around this law was offering customers a chance to view a “pig” which was really the tavern owner, but while they were able to view the pig they would get a free glass of rum. This law was repealed in February of 1840. During the 18030’s, 40’s, and 50’s there was a rise of anti-immigrant parties such as the Nativists who were also known as the American party. There targets were the Democrats who were gaining political control over the Irish American gangs. The Nativist’s did not like the Irish or the German Catholic immigrants because they saw these groups as a threat to their Protestant values. Boston had twelve hundred licensed liquor sellers most of who were Irish and in New York three-quarters of the city’s saloons were operated by Catholics. (Sissmondo, 131-132) The German and Irish were being called out for having most of the control over the liquor supply and with that the temperance movements started to become more radical. The Second Great Awakening was part of the reason for the temperance movements because there was no longer the idea of predestination, but now there was a more hopeful view of eternal salvation as long as people reformed thoroughly. With that came the idea of refraining from even any mild alcoholic beverages and things such as caffeine and medical drugs. Actions were now being taken to reduce the consumption of alcohol more effectively. With the many unlicensed bars that were beginning to become to many to count Maine came up with a solution of instituting a prohibition on alcohol. Eleven other states followed the “Maine laws” and became dry. With the start of the Maine laws came the start of the Know-Nothing Party who were supporters of the Nativist and came at a time when the Whigs were beginning to fade away. The three things that were said to determine a candidates political standing was looking at their campaign promises: a crackdown on crime, barring immigrants from holding any government job at any level, and enforcing or instituting Sunday closing laws. (Sissmondo, 133) Sunday closing laws were especially geared towards the Irish and the German Catholics because Sundays were their one-day off to drink and relax after having worked their hard-labor jobs. These laws began to be known as “blue laws.” Boone who was part of the Nativist party raised the fee to own a liquor license from fifty dollars a year to three hundred. This was an attempt to force out the lower class places. There were many different ploys enacted to lower the consumption, but the townspeople always found a way around it. As the consumption of alcohol doubled in the mid 1800’s there began to emerge a large temperance movement trying to stop it. Different parties began to target immigrants saying that they were part of the problem because they owned most of the taverns in the towns. Townspeople however, always would find a way around the laws if it was to see a tavern keeper dressed up as a pig or to have illegal taverns. Known of the laws put in place actually stopped the Americans willingness to fight for alcohol, so for this the townspeople were still winning.