Ceremony and sacred ritesNorth AmericaSecular and civil
Slave marriages in the United States
The unions formed by enslaved African Americans before and after the abolition of slavery in the US.
Enslaved African Americans created marital bonds despite laws that treated them as property. These relationships existed outside legal recognition until the Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery. Couples used rituals like jumping the broom to affirm their commitment.
When is Slave marriages in the United States kept?
Slave marriages in the United States is kept on before the Civil War and during Reconstruction.
Marriage for enslaved people in the United States was a complex practice shaped by oppression. Laws denied these unions legal status, yet couples built lasting families through shared vows and community recognition. Rituals provided a sense of permanence against the threat of separation.
Legal status and control
Slave codes from 1705 defined enslaved people as chattel, denying them civil rights or the ability to own property. Federal and state laws generally prohibited civil contracts for this group. The Supreme Court reinforced this view in 1856, ruling that enslaved individuals were not citizens. Only a few states, such as New York and Tennessee, offered limited legal protections or recognized personhood with owner consent. Slavers controlled family structures, deciding who lived together or was sold away.
Ceremonies and rituals
Couples established unions through mutual agreement and permission from owners. Vows were often modified to acknowledge the risk of forced separation. Common phrasing included 'til death or distance do you part.' Jumping the broom served as a key ritual to solidify the bond. Rare formal ceremonies occurred, sometimes led by black plantation preachers or white ministers, followed by feasts and dances for house servants.
Family life and separation
Enslaved fathers often lacked authority over their families due to the institution of slavery. Children born to enslaved women became the property of the mother's owner under the law partus sequitur ventrem. The domestic slave trade disrupted many first marriages, separating partners across different plantations. Slavers sometimes encouraged marriages to increase productivity and reduce escape attempts, but they could also sell family members at will.
After emancipation
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, granting freed people the right to marry legally. The Freedmen's Bureau helped record former slave marriages and locate separated family members. Many couples sought to formalize long-term relationships through certificates and licenses. While most embraced this new right, some felt pressured by missionaries to marry quickly, fearing social punishment for cohabitation without legal ties.
How Slave marriages in the United States is kept
Couples exchanged modified vows acknowledging the threat of separation. They performed the jump the broom ritual to symbolize their union. Community members recognized the relationship even without legal papers. After emancipation, couples registered their marriages with the Freedmen's Bureau or local authorities to secure legal standing for themselves and their children.
When and where
These practices occurred throughout the period of slavery until its abolition in 1865. Formal registration efforts intensified immediately after the Civil War during Reconstruction.
This custom is specific to the United States. It was practiced across all states where slavery existed, though legal variations occurred in places like New York and Tennessee.
What Slave marriages in the United States means
The broom represented the threshold of a new home and life together. Modified vows reflected resilience against systemic cruelty. Legal registration after emancipation symbolized the reclaiming of personhood and family autonomy.
Who takes part
- The couple: Exchange vows and perform rituals to affirm their bond.
- The slaver: Controls the family structure and decides on separations.
- The preacher: Performs rare formal ceremonies for house servants.
- Community members: Recognize and support the quasi-marital relationship.
Then and now
Historical records preserve these experiences. Modern descendants trace lineage through Freedmen's Bureau archives. The legacy highlights the strength of family bonds under extreme duress.
On the wedding table
Symbols: The broom Candles and lamps
Questions people ask about Slave marriages in the United States
When is Slave marriages in the United States kept?
Slave marriages in the United States is kept on before the Civil War and during Reconstruction.
Were slave marriages legal?
No, most slave marriages were illegal and not recognized by law. Enslaved people were considered property, not citizens. A few states offered limited exceptions, but generally, these unions lacked legal protection.
What was jumping the broom?
It was a ritual where couples jumped over a broom to symbolize their marriage. This practice helped affirm their commitment and create a sense of permanence despite legal restrictions.
How did families stay together?
Families often struggled to stay together due to sales and transfers. Slavers controlled living arrangements. Some owners allowed broad marriages where partners lived on different plantations and visited occasionally.
What happened after emancipation?
After the Thirteenth Amendment, freed people could marry legally. The Freedmen's Bureau helped register past marriages and locate separated relatives. Many couples formalized their unions through official certificates.
See also
Las arrasThirteen coins exchanged by the couple to symbolize provision and trust in a Christian marriage.Common-law marriage in the United StatesA legal marriage formed without a licence or ceremony, in a few US jurisdictions
Weddings in MaliMulti-day Malian wedding traditions blending Islamic rites, civil law, and local customs with bazin attire.
Marriage in KoreaA look at how Korean weddings blend ancient Confucian rites with modern legal practices.Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Slave marriages in the United States", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.
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