Although U.S.divorce rates were lower in the past,married people still split up.Which of the following was a "functional equivalent" of divorce for U.S.couples?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Desertion and abandonment were common before divorce was widely accepted as a legal option. Couples would separate, with one partner leaving without legalizing the separation through divorce. This was a functional equivalent of divorce, as the couple would no longer live together and may even have new partners, but without the legal finalization of divorce. Forced separation, polygamy, and patricide are not related to the concept of divorce or the dissolution of a marriage.