Schultz, Martin. "Divorce in Early America: Origins and Patterns in Three North Central States." The Sociological Quarterly 25.4 (1984): 511-25. JSTOR. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
With divorce rates rising to nearly 50% in the 21st century, sociologists have begun to examine trends in marriage and marriage breakdowns throughout American history. They have become especially interested in eras that predate divorce rates as in the early half of the 1800's. Martin Schultz's essay provides systematic data of three particular North Central States in America as a means of uncovering some of the mystery surrounding divorce during this time.What is made apparent through Schultz's discoveries, is a massive divorce rate that begins in the first half of the century and increases dramatically in the latter half and the beginning of the proceeding century as a result of changing marriage laws and a general social acceptance and conventionality surrounding divorce.
With divorce rates rising to nearly 50% in the 21st century, sociologists have begun to examine trends in marriage and marriage breakdowns throughout American history. They have become especially interested in eras that predate divorce rates as in the early half of the 1800's. Martin Schultz's essay provides systematic data of three particular North Central States in America as a means of uncovering some of the mystery surrounding divorce during this time.What is made apparent through Schultz's discoveries, is a massive divorce rate that begins in the first half of the century and increases dramatically in the latter half and the beginning of the proceeding century as a result of changing marriage laws and a general social acceptance and conventionality surrounding divorce.
“Wants His Marriage Annulled.” The New York Times [New York City] 28 Aug. 1895. The New York Times. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
“Mrs. M.F. Fearing Sued for Divorce.” The New York Times [New York City] 28 Aug. 1895. The New York Times. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
These two articles from an 1895 publication of The New York Times show the nature of some of the divorce scandals taking place during the 1890s. In the article entitled “Wants His Marriage Annulled,” 19-year-old plaintiff Westcott F. Zittel claimed that he was coaxed into getting married when he was highly intoxicated and was seeking an annulment from his wife, Emma Richter. Zittel asserted that he was deceived into marrying Richter, had no idea what was going on at the wedding, and had never lived with his wife anytime thereafter. Richter, however, claimed that Zittel did in fact live with her at one point, denied that Zittel was drunk during the ceremony, and said that Zittel was the one who had called and asked her to marry him. The outcome of the case was not included in the article. In the article entitled “Mrs. M.F. Fearing Sued for Divorce,” the details of the divorce case between Charles B. Fearing and Mary F. Fearing are divulged. Mr. Fearing was reported to be suing his wife for a divorce, claiming that she was unfaithful and had an intimate affair with another man. Both articles are brief, but together paint a picture of the increasing commonality of divorce and decreasing value of the institution of marriage. (KC)
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