the woman's christian temperance union (wctu) started from a movement against saloons and liquor stores. it began in ohio. it spread throughout the midwestern united states during the winter of 1873-1874. the movement had over 32,000 women who went into saloons and liquor stores. they did this to disrupt business and stop the sales of alcohol. the wctu was officially started in late november 1874 in cleveland, ohio.