Marriage in a new light
Some restrictive traditions in marital relations, adopted in Europe, were transferred to the New World by the first settlers. For example, Calvin's dogmatic condemnation of intimate pleasures dominated the minds of Americans, especially the Puritans, for many years. Anti-sexual and moralistic attitudes were derived from Roman law, which served as the basis for British law. This code has long dominated the colonies. Gradually, women were loaded with many responsibilities with very little rights. So, they had no right to own property, to sign business papers. The husband could completely isolate his wife, had the right to demand unquestioning submission in an intimate life, and could also choose a place of residence at his own discretion.
At the beginning of the colonization period, marriages were almost exclusively for reasons of convenience. Religious views on marriage and love have become widespread. Family life was considered secondary to religion. The intimate side of the marriage relationship was rejected, as the spouses had to think only about raising children and performing religious rites.
However, in the midst of the settlers, the desire for greater freedom was gradually forming. The development of new lands, new opportunities for success and advancement in various social ladders contributed to the fact that the colonists cast off the shackles of many traditions. In 1630, Anna Hutchinson - the first woman among the settlers of New England - questioned the correctness of the subordinate position of women and their limited freedom in marriage. For active work to promote their ideas, she and her followers were killed. But the idea of equality was supported and developed by other women, especially Abigail Adam.
Abigail, the wife of John Adams( 1735-1826), who later became the second president of the United States of America, believed that British legislation should be changed by constitutionally granting women equal rights with men. She sharply criticized the adopted system of laws on marriage, pointed to the injustice of marriage, which primarily serves the interests of men. In 1797, she wrote to her husband that in the new code of laws that he needed to develop as a president, one should remember women and be more generous and supportive toward them than his predecessors. She asked not to give such unlimited power into the hands of men, to remember that if men could, then all would become tyrants and if not to give women care and attention, an uprising against legality may begin.
Despite the courageous efforts of Abigail Adams, the perseverance of her many associates, women took a long time to achieve certain life rights, including marriage.
And now there are still many restrictions in marriage. In some countries, marriage remains strictly organized, under control.
As women in the United States gained more and more rights, the attitude towards marriage was radically changing. This was promoted in the beginning by the struggle of women for electoral rights, and in the future the growing feminist movement. An increasing number of modern women make the decision to work. At the same time, many men are beginning to take on some domestic responsibilities and participate more actively in the process of raising children.
However, it should be noted that the institution of official marriage began to be questioned: individual couples live together without legal registration of their relations. Other couples try to use creativity liberally. Keeping fidelity to each other in marriage, while maintaining a sense of true love, they try to preserve their own personal freedom.