Question

sally and bill are a puritan married couple. sally and bill decide that they no longer want to continue their marriage. the most likely way they will end their marriage is

bill and sally agree that bill will desert sally
bill and sally are both required to pay a fine to get a divorce
bill and sally announce to their community that they are no longer married; filing for a divorce is not necessary
bill and sally get a divorce, but are never permitted to remarry anyone
bill and sally get a divorce and likely remarry other people

Explanation:

Analyze Puritan views on marriage

Puritans viewed marriage as a civil contract rather than a sacrament. Because it was a contract, it could be legally dissolved if its core covenants were broken.

Examine Puritan divorce practices

Using the Puritan Family Life knowledge point, we know that New England Puritans allowed legal divorce for specific causes like desertion, adultery, or cruelty.

Determine remarriage rules

Unlike in England, Puritan courts permitted the innocent party in a divorce to remarry. In practice, most divorced Puritans quickly remarried to maintain household stability.

Evaluate the given options

• Desertion was a ground for divorce, but not a mutual agreement to end marriage.
• Fines were not standard requirements for obtaining a divorce.
• Informal community announcements did not legally end a marriage contract.
• Remarriage was permitted, making the option denying remarriage incorrect.
• The most accurate option is that they would get a divorce and likely remarry.

Answer:

• Bill and Sally agree that Bill will desert Sally
• Bill and Sally are both required to pay a fine to get a divorce
• Bill and Sally announce to their community that they are no longer married; filing for a divorce is not necessary
• Bill and Sally get a divorce, but are never permitted to remarry anyone
• Bill and Sally get a divorce and likely remarry other people (Correct answer)