Polygamy

Definition

Polygamy is the practice of being married to multiple partners simultaneously. It is a form of marriage that involves more than two people and is often associated with certain religious and cultural traditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Polygamy was practiced by some religious communities in the United States during the 19th century, particularly among the Mormons.
2. The practice of polygamy was a source of controversy and conflict between the Mormon Church and the federal government.
3. Polygamy was officially banned by the Mormon Church in 1890, but the practice continued among some fundamentalist groups that split from the mainstream church.
4. The practice of polygamy was seen as a threat to traditional American values and the institution of monogamous marriage.
5. Debates over the legality and morality of polygamy played a significant role in the political and social landscape of the Antebellum period.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of polygamy in the context of the Antebellum Communal Experiments.
  • During the Antebellum period, some religious communities, particularly the Mormons, practiced polygamy as part of their communal experiments. The practice of a man marrying multiple wives was seen as a way to create tight-knit, self-sufficient communities that were separate from the broader American society. Polygamy was a controversial and divisive issue, as it was viewed by many as a threat to traditional American values and the institution of monogamous marriage. The debates over the legality and morality of polygamy played a significant role in the political and social landscape of the time.
• Analyze the relationship between the practice of polygamy and the conflicts between the Mormon Church and the federal government.
  • The practice of polygamy by the Mormon Church was a major source of conflict between the church and the federal government during the Antebellum period. The government saw polygamy as a threat to traditional American values and the institution of monogamous marriage, and they sought to outlaw the practice. This led to a series of legal battles and confrontations between the Mormons and the federal authorities, as the church defended its right to practice polygamy as a religious freedom. The conflict over polygamy was a significant factor in the ongoing tensions between the Mormon community and the broader American society, and it played a key role in shaping the political and social dynamics of the Antebellum era.
• Evaluate the impact of the debates over the legality and morality of polygamy on the Antebellum Communal Experiments.
  • The debates over the legality and morality of polygamy had a significant impact on the Antebellum Communal Experiments, particularly those involving the Mormon Church. The practice of polygamy was a central aspect of the Mormon community's communal experiments, as it was seen as a way to create tight-knit, self-sufficient groups that were separate from the broader American society. However, the federal government's attempts to outlaw polygamy and the resulting conflicts with the Mormon Church created significant challenges for these communal experiments. The debates over the legality and morality of polygamy shaped the political and social landscape of the Antebellum period, and they ultimately played a key role in the eventual decline and transformation of the Mormon Church's communal experiments.

Related terms

Polyandry: A form of polygamy where a woman is married to multiple husbands at the same time.

Polygyny: A form of polygamy where a man is married to multiple wives at the same time.

Celestial Marriage: A doctrine within Mormonism that allows for the practice of polygamy, where a man can be sealed to multiple wives for eternity.