Primary Source Analysis: Reynolds V. United States
Michael Doody
Period: C/ December 19
Primary Source Analysis
Reynolds v. United States Reynolds v. United States, a landmark court case in 1878, upheld anti-polygamy laws previously established. The issue was whether or not the federal anti-bigamy statute violated the First Amendment 's free exercise clause because plural marriage was part of religious practice? Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite stated that the law can penalize criminal activity without regard to religious belief. The First Amendment defended religious belief; however it did not protect religious practices that could be seen as an unlawful offense such as bigamy. Waite went further to state that “those who practiced polygamy could be no more exempt from the law than those
Period: C/ December 19
Primary Source Analysis
Reynolds v. United States Reynolds v. United States, a landmark court case in 1878, upheld anti-polygamy laws previously established. The issue was whether or not the federal anti-bigamy statute violated the First Amendment 's free exercise clause because plural marriage was part of religious practice? Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite stated that the law can penalize criminal activity without regard to religious belief. The First Amendment defended religious belief; however it did not protect religious practices that could be seen as an unlawful offense such as bigamy. Waite went further to state that “those who practiced polygamy could be no more exempt from the law than those