Polygamy In North America
Polygamy, in particular polygyny where one man takes several wives, is a common marriage pattern in some parts of the world. However, in North America polygamy has never been a culturally normative or legally recognized institution, post colonization by Europeans. In Canada, polygamy laws are written in a slightly different way than in the USA. However, all provinces adhere to the federal Criminal Code of Canada which makes polygamy an offense and punishable by up to five years in prison.
Polygamy became a significant social and political issue in the United States in 1852, when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) made it known that a form of the practice, called plural marriage, was part of its doctrine. Opposition to the practice by the United States government resulted in an intense legal conflict, and culminated in LDS Church president Wilford Woodruff announcing the church's official abandonment of the practice on September 25, 1890. However, breakaway Mormon fundamentalist groups living mostly in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico still practice plural marriage. A very small minority of American Muslims also practice polygamy.
Read more about Polygamy In North America: Polygamy Defined, Polygamy and Bigamy Laws in The US, History of Polygamy, Early Latter Day Saint Practice, Latter Day Saint Fundamentalism, Recent Polygamy Cases, Canada, See Also
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