Legal Definitions - Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882

The Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, often simply called the Edmunds Act, was a United States federal law passed in 1882. Its primary purpose was to declare polygamy a felony offense in all U.S. federal territories. Beyond criminalizing the practice, the Act also imposed significant civil restrictions on individuals who practiced polygamy or cohabited in a polygamous relationship within these territories.

Specifically, the Edmunds Act made it illegal for polygamists to:

• Vote in elections
• Hold public office
• Serve on juries

This legislation arose from conflicts surrounding the practice of polygamy by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), particularly in the Utah Territory. It sparked a national debate about religious freedom versus the government's power to regulate social practices. The Act was rigorously enforced starting in 1887, and its impact was further solidified when the Supreme Court, in the case of Late Corp. of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. United States, took action to disincorporate the LDS Church.

Examples of the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act in action:

• Imagine a man named Thomas, living in the Arizona Territory in 1885. Thomas was a respected farmer and openly acknowledged having two wives. When a local election was announced, Thomas went to register to vote, as he had in previous years. However, the election official informed him that, due to the recently passed Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act, he was no longer eligible to vote because he practiced polygamy. This illustrates how the Act directly stripped polygamists of their voting rights in federal territories.

• Consider Sarah, a woman living in the Idaho Territory in the late 1880s, who was called for jury duty. During the jury selection process, the judge asked potential jurors about their marital status. When Sarah disclosed that she was part of a polygamous marriage, the judge immediately excused her from service. This demonstrates the Act's provision that made it unlawful for individuals practicing polygamy to serve on juries in federal territories.

• Picture a scenario in the Utah Territory around 1890, where a prominent citizen, Mr. Peterson, decided to run for a seat on the territorial legislature. Mr. Peterson was well-known in his community and had a strong platform, but he also openly lived in a polygamous household. His opponents challenged his eligibility, citing the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act. Ultimately, Mr. Peterson was barred from holding public office because the Act explicitly prohibited polygamists from doing so in federal territories, regardless of their popularity or qualifications.