The Evolution of Matrimony in the United States

Introduction and Conceptual Framework

The Evolution of Matrimony in the United States

I'll focus on the evolution of the concept of matrimony in the United States because I've grown up witnessing the whole idea of marriage change over time in different parts of the world but I chose to focus on the United states in particular because of the revolutionary changes that have taken place in the last few centuries. This presentation is gonna be delivered with an emotional yet informative tone. The overall feel of this project will transition from a historical aesthetic to the post modern era.

By the means of visual presentation through historical clips, articles, artifacts and the media. The aim of this project is to analyze the institution of marriage and how it is evolved with time.

Everything was on the rise

US Supreme Court Makes Gay Marriage Legal in All 50 US States

Prohibition of Interracial Marriage

1953- A law was passed allowing couples to make no fault divorces.

1967- the ban on interracial marriage was finally lifted and for the first time in US history marriage was declared a civil right.

1993- Same sex marriage was recognized as a national viable issue.

1996-The Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) was passed

In the 1600s, interracial marriages were frowned upon and strict laws were in place against interracial marriages. So much so, that white women were enslaved if they married a black man. Later in the Century, laws against white women changed from being enslaved to being killed due to political pressures at the time.

From 2010 through 2014, with the support of former President Barack Obama, a congressional effort was made to repeal federal laws that defined marriage as a legal union between a man and woman. This was followed by the gradual legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the United States followed by the final Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states on June 26th, 2015. This was a turning point in the evolution of marriage in the United States.

2010s

1900s

2000s

1800s

1600s

Ban on Mormon Polygamy

Things started looking better

In 2000, Vermont was the first state to offer benefits to same sex couples, 4 years later,

Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay Marriage.

In 1830, Married women property act was introduced which granted married women the right to own property, independent of their husbands. In the 1870s the US supreme court passed the federal Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, which was passed specifically to prohibit Mormon polygamy

Exigency, purpose and audience

Conclusion

To conclude, the concept of matrimony has evolved from the 1600s to present time and i personally believe that we as a nation have come a long way in terms of having the freedom of choosing to love who we love and not be constrained by the norms of society.

Being an international student from a country which has a very different social construct and views on marriage, I was intrigued to find out more about how matrimony evolved in the United States to reach a point where it is currently at.

The intended purpose is to highlight the struggles that different people went through back in the day and how it has changed to the present day. The intended audience is the youth of this nation to showcase challenges and reforms and the appreciate the circumstances we live in today.