From the first successful settlement of the English colony in North America, marriage has played an important role in maintaining peace and establishing domestic roles and social standards for both men and women. Indeed, the first marriage in North America to promote peace between two discrete groups took place not long after the settlement of Jamestown. The union of John Rolfe and Pocahontas was an agreement to bring the English colonists and the Powhatan people together. Additionally, marriage in North America has also established the roles of men and women in both the private and public sectors. Throughout the years, part of society had always clung to a traditional standard of marriage due to the fear of changing the marriage’s institution.
…show more content…
However, following the social mainstream, interracial marriage was legalized. When California became the first state to legalize interracial marriage, there were still ninety-six percent of Americans opposed to this. However, just a decade later, half the number of states have also legalized interracial marriage. Finally, through the ironical court case called Loving v. Virginia, the prohibition of interracial marriage was unconstitutional. The court involved Richard Loving and his black partner. After the two were married in the District of Columbia, they returned to living in Virginia. The couple was sentenced to a year in jail for the violation of Virginia’s interracial marriage laws. The court decision forever shifted the public opinions regarding the marriage between two different ethnics. Today, almost all Americans support interracial marriage. Just five decades later, the balance has totally been flipped. This is due to the new growing liberal …show more content…
When those conditions change, marriage also follows. In the past centuries, marriage is usually held between a man and women, and women usually have less power in domestic life than men due to the period’s social and economic conditions. In the past society, women had few chances of having a career, and they were financially unsecured. Therefore, marriage provided social and economic security for the women at the time. Today, however, those conditions have changed. Women no longer need a male partner to be secure. Consequently, it is inequitable to follow a marriage institution which existed a century ago. Thus, researcher Burrus believes it is cruel to ban same-sex marriage because conservatives argued that gay marriages are not found over “millennia.” Hence, it is reasonable for social viewpoints regarding marriage to change overtime to fit its social institution.
Although it has set the Supreme Court a few steps behind the current social viewpoints, states’ rights were strengthened through polygamy, interracial marriage, and same-sex marriage. However, America social viewpoints concerning marriage have changed through the mainstream to fit the marriage constant social institution. Additionally, the changes promote equality among all Americans under the Constitution because it has promise that all men are
However, following the social mainstream, interracial marriage was legalized. When California became the first state to legalize interracial marriage, there were still ninety-six percent of Americans opposed to this. However, just a decade later, half the number of states have also legalized interracial marriage. Finally, through the ironical court case called Loving v. Virginia, the prohibition of interracial marriage was unconstitutional. The court involved Richard Loving and his black partner. After the two were married in the District of Columbia, they returned to living in Virginia. The couple was sentenced to a year in jail for the violation of Virginia’s interracial marriage laws. The court decision forever shifted the public opinions regarding the marriage between two different ethnics. Today, almost all Americans support interracial marriage. Just five decades later, the balance has totally been flipped. This is due to the new growing liberal …show more content…
When those conditions change, marriage also follows. In the past centuries, marriage is usually held between a man and women, and women usually have less power in domestic life than men due to the period’s social and economic conditions. In the past society, women had few chances of having a career, and they were financially unsecured. Therefore, marriage provided social and economic security for the women at the time. Today, however, those conditions have changed. Women no longer need a male partner to be secure. Consequently, it is inequitable to follow a marriage institution which existed a century ago. Thus, researcher Burrus believes it is cruel to ban same-sex marriage because conservatives argued that gay marriages are not found over “millennia.” Hence, it is reasonable for social viewpoints regarding marriage to change overtime to fit its social institution.
Although it has set the Supreme Court a few steps behind the current social viewpoints, states’ rights were strengthened through polygamy, interracial marriage, and same-sex marriage. However, America social viewpoints concerning marriage have changed through the mainstream to fit the marriage constant social institution. Additionally, the changes promote equality among all Americans under the Constitution because it has promise that all men are