<P> Scots - Irish settlers, and some Welsh emigrants, carried long - standing multiple partner traditions to the Americas from Europe . Utopian and communal groups established during the mid-19th century had varying marriage systems, including group marriage and polygyny . There is also some evidence in the American South for multiple marriage partners, particularly after the Civil War . </P> <P> Polygamy has also been practiced, discreetly, by some Muslims living in America . However, these polygamous marriages are not recognized by American law . </P> <P> Because polygamy has been illegal throughout the United States since the mid-19th century, and in many individual states before that, sources on alternative marriage practices are limited . Consequently, it is difficult to get a clear picture of the extent of the practice in the past and at the present time . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Mormonism and polygamy </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portrait of Ira Eldredge with his three wives: Nancy Black Eldredge, Hannah Mariah Savage Eldredge, and Helvig Marie Andersen Eldredge . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Background (show) Origin of Latter Day Saint polygamy Late - 19th century Mormon polygamy 1890 Manifesto Second Manifesto (1904) Council of Friends </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Current state of polygamy (show) Modern Latter Day Saint polygamy Mormon fundamentalism Leaders </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Prominent practitioners (show) Joseph Smith Wives of Joseph Smith Brigham Young Wives of Brigham Young List of Mormon polygamists FLDS Church AUB </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Related legislation (show) Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act Poland Act Edmunds Act Edmunds--Tucker Act Reed Smoot hearings </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Related case law (show) Reynolds v. US Cannon v. US Clawson v. US Davis v. Beason Late Corp. of the LDS Church v. US Cleveland v. US Brown v. Buhman List of polygamy court cases </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Related articles (show) Celestial marriage Spiritual wifery Polygamy in North America Timeline of civil marriage in the US Freedom of religion in the US Mormon colonies in Mexico Latter - day Saint settlements in Canada Short Creek raid Lost boys YFZ Ranch Polygamy czar Legal status of polygamy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <P> Latter Day Saints portal </P> Book </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When did polygamy become illegal in the us