On March 22nd, 1882, the United States Congress passed the Edmunds Act, which outlawed polygamy in the United States. The Act was a response to the practice of polygamy among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, which had become a controversial issue in the United States.
Polygamy, the practice of having more than one spouse, was a part of the Mormon Church’s teachings since the early days of its founding in the 1830s. However, the practice was viewed as immoral and a threat to the traditional American family structure by many people outside of the Church.
The Edmunds Act was the culmination of a series of legislative efforts by Congress to address the issue of polygamy. It made polygamy a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $500 fine. The Act also prohibited individuals who practiced polygamy from voting, serving on juries, or holding public office.
The Edmunds Act was not universally popular, and it faced opposition from many Mormons who saw it as an attack on their religious freedom. Some Mormons continued to practice polygamy despite the law, and the issue remained a contentious one for many years.
In 1890, the Mormon Church officially renounced the practice of polygamy, which helped to ease tensions between the Church and the government. However, it wasn’t until 1896 that Utah was granted statehood, in part because the government was satisfied that the Church had abandoned the practice of polygamy.
Today, the practice of polygamy remains illegal in the United States, although there are still some small communities of people who continue to practice it in secret. The Edmunds Act remains an important milestone in the history of American law and religious freedom, and it serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between individual rights and the interests of society as a whole.
