Polygamy in North America - History of Polygamy

History of Polygamy

Polygamy in the United States has a long history. Many Native American tribes practiced polygamy (generally polygyny) and European mountain men often took native wives and adopted the practice. Some tribes seem to have continued the practice into the 20th century.

Scots-Irish settlers, and some Welsh emigrants, carried long-standing multiple partner traditions to the Americas from Europe. Utopian and communal groups established during the mid-19th century had varying marriage systems, including group marriage and polygyny. (Loue, pp. 27–30) There is also some evidence in the American South for multiple marriage partners, particularly after the Civil War.

Polygamy has also been practiced, discreetly, by some Muslims living in America.

Christian polygamy is a more modern development of a polygamist culture. They assert that the movement has no connection with Joseph Smith.

Because polygamy has been illegal throughout the United States since the mid-19th century, and in many individual states before that, sources on alternative marriage practices are limited. Consequently, it is difficult to get a clear picture of the extent of the practice in the past and at the present time.