In the 1800s, courting or dating occurred, but not in public. People didnt go on dates but rather met. These dates occurred in the privacy of a family porch or parlor. Usually, girls married men a little older than themselves.

When did dating become a thing?

The word dating entered the American language during the 1920s. Prior to that, courtship was a matter of family and community interest. Starting around the time of the Civil War, courtship became a private matter for couples.

How long did a typical courtship last?

The length of their courtship—including dating as well as engagement—ranged from a couple weeks to eight years; the average courtship period lasted 21 months, with six of them spent engaged.

How old is a child bride?

“Child marriage” is generally understood to mean marriages that take place before age 18, but for many girls, marriage occurs much earlier. In some countries, girls as young as 7 or 8 are forced by their families to marry much older men.

When did marrying cousins become illegal?

Regardless, cousin marriage bans began popping up across the states, with the first in Kansas (1858). Ohio, NH, NV, ND, SD, WA and WY banned the practice in the 1860s, and many more had enacted bans by the 1920s. The most recent state to ban cousin marriage was Texas in 2005.