What was established in Reynolds v US 1878?

United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878), was a Supreme Court of the United States case that held that religious duty was not a defense to a criminal indictment.

Who fought against the practice of polygamy?

By the time Vidyasagar attacked the practice of polygamy among high-caste Hindus in the 1870s, the revolt of 1857 had created an unbridgeable chasm between Indians and their colonial masters.

Why is polygamy banned in the US?

Because state laws exist, polygamy is not actively prosecuted at the federal level, but the practice is considered “against public policy” and, accordingly, the U.S. government does not recognize bigamous marriages for immigration purposes (that is, would not allow one of the spouses to petition for immigration …

When was polygamy made illegal?

1904
Polygamy was a significant tenant of the early Mormon church. Church founders Joseph Smith and Brigham Young each had scores of wives in the mid-1800s. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, however, discontinued the practice in 1890 and completely banned it in 1904.

What was the impact of Reynolds v United States?

In Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1879), the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a federal law prohibiting polygamy did not violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. The Court’s decision was among the first to hold that the free exercise of religion is not absolute.

Who was the plaintiff in Reynolds v United States?

Facts of the case George Reynolds, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was charged with bigamy under the federal Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act after marrying a woman while still married to his previous wife. Reynolds argued that the law was unconstitutional.

What does the United States Supreme Court decide?

As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. The Supreme Court is “distinctly American in concept and function,” as Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes observed.

How did the Reynolds v United States 1878 decision affect religious freedom?

Summary. This Supreme Court Case focuses on a case which tested the limits of religious liberty: Reynolds v. United States (1879). The Court ruled unanimously that a law banning polygamy was constitutional, and did not infringe upon individuals’ First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.