The early American marriage
system was taken from the traditional English law. It was to make an alliance
between two families. The bride brought her own household goods, money and
clothing and the groom provided her with land, and a house. In colonial
America, sexual attraction or romantic love was not the basis of the marriage.
Respectful love was supposed to develop the union between the bride and groom.
In the Chesapeake region of Colonial America, men had a hard time trying to find
a woman to marry and this resulted in marital instability. The ratio of men to
women was 4:2. The New England was 3:2. One Third of women in the Chesapeake
region were pregnant before they wed, while in New England, it was one tenth of
all women. Another cause of marital instability was the death rate. One half of
all the marriages in the Chesapeake region were broken because of the death
rate.
The Eighteenth Century
had lots of changes from the previous century. Marriage was now based on love
and affection of the couple. Married couples also referred to their spouse by
their first name, rather then “Sir” or “Madam” as in the previous century.
Slaves were prohibited from legal forms of marriage, but they were allowed to
have formal unions that brought them together in marriage. Slaves had to have
their master’s permission to marry, and 1/6 of marriages were broken because of
the sale of slaves. A common phrase heard in slaves’ marriages was “Until death
or distance do you part.” The Supreme Court outlawed polygamy in 1878.
The Mormons of Utah practiced this, and until they renounced the practice of
Polygamy, the state of Utah would not be allowed in the Union.
Marriage rates in the
Twentieth Century have fluctuated. During the years of 1930-1932, there was a
13% drop in marriages. This was due to the lack of money and because it was
economically difficult for young couples to form a new household. World War II
brought a huge increase in marriage. There were uncertainties of the future and
also there was an economic recovery, leading to the boom of marriage rates.
Between the years of 1940-1942, 1000 couples married per day. The average age
of marriage dropped, the lowest it dropped was 19 in the year 1959. The Fifties
was a time of conformity, and this is shown by their idea of marriage. The
ideal marriage of the Fifties was said to be a “partnership centered around
children and devoted to togetherness.” The average age of marriage rose, along
with the divorce rate in the 1970’s. Also in the 1970’s, the percentage of
households with two unmarried members of the opposite sex tripled. Marriage
continues to be a union of two members of the opposite sex, but that could
change in the future.
Marriage has to be
with consent of two people. If the marriage is that it was forced, it will be
annulled. Minors must have consented their parents or guardians in order to
marry. A chart showing when minors can marry in what state can be found here
A marriage made in a foreign country would be considered legal in the United
States.
