In colonial America, remarriage after the death of a spouse was which of the following?

• A. Socially expected.
• B. Frowned upon in most colonies.
• C. Forbidden.
• D. Permissible after five years.

Answer: (A)

Remarriage after a spouse’s death was common because marriage functioned as both a social bond and an practical economic unit in colonial life. High mortality meant households frequently needed stable leadership, labor, and care for children. A surviving partner could rely on a new marriage to maintain the farm or household, provide economic security for dependents, and keep kin networks intact. Religious and legal norms generally allowed remarriage, and there wasn’t a universal rule requiring a long waiting period. While individual communities might have had their own mourning customs, the overall pattern was welcoming and practical, making remarriage socially expected.