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Carrie Nation (November 25, 1846 - June 9, 1911) was a member of the temperance movement—the battles against alcohol in pre-Prohibition America—particularly noted for promoting her viewpoint through vandalism. On many occasions, Nation would enter an alcohol-serving establishment, and attack the bar with a hatchet. She has been the topic of numerous books, articles and even a 1966 opera at the University of Kansas. Nation was a large woman nearly 6 feet (180 cm) tall and weighing 175 pounds (80 kg); she described herself as "a bulldog running along at the feet of Jesus, barking at what He doesn't like", and claimed a divine ordination to promote temperance by smashing up bars. The spelling of her first name is ambiguous; both "Carrie" and "Carry" are considered correct. Official records list the former, and Nation used that spelling most of her life; the latter was used by her father in the family Bible. Upon beginning her campaign against liquor in the early 20th century, she adopted the name Carry A. Nation mainly for its value as a slogan, and had it registered as a trademark in the state of Kansas. Nation also operated under the alias Mary Pat Clarke. [ citation needed ]
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