ABSTRACT
Throughout American history, marriage has been defined as a lifelong relationship between spouses. Of course, this definition represents a cultural ideal rather than a description of reality. Almost everyone knows that marital dissolution is common these days, and that nearly half of all first marriages are projected to end in divorce. Many people do not realize, however, that divorce has always been a fact of life in American society. Our goal in this chapter is to present a historical perspective on marital dissolution in the United States. We focus on three aspects of divorce that have changed significantly over time: (a) the frequency of divorce, (b) the legal regulation of divorce, and (c) public attitudes toward divorce.
