Reynolds v. United States - Significance, Congress Strengthens The Anti-bigamy Law, The Supreme Court Destroys The Mormons' Hopes

Reynolds v. United States - Significance

The Mormons, who settled Utah, permitted members of their religion to practice polygamy. In Reynolds, the Supreme Court held that federal legislation banning polygamy was constitutional and did not violate the Mormons' First Amendment right to free exercise of their religion. The Reynolds case still remains the leading Supreme Court decision that the First Amendment does not protect polygamy. Afte…

Reynolds v. United States - Further Readings

Reynolds v. United States - Congress Strengthens The Anti-bigamy Law

After the Civil War, Congress regained interest in the question of Mormon polygamy. Congress strengthened the Morill Act by passing the Poland Law in 1874. The Poland Law increased the powers of the federal judiciary within the territory of Utah. Because federal judges were federally appointed, they were more likely to be non-Mormons and thus more aggressive about enforcing the law. Mormon leader …

Reynolds v. United States - The Supreme Court Destroys The Mormons' Hopes

On 6 January 1879, the Supreme Court upheld the trial court's decision. The Supreme Court said that the First Amendment did not protect polygamy, and based its decision upon historic American cultural values: Polygamy has always been odious among the northern and western nations of Europe, and, until the establishment of the Mormon Church, was almost exclusively a feature of the life of Asiatic an…