The concept of marriage in North America is very different today than it was in the last century. Now, we like to choose our own spouses and decide our own fate. Gone are arranged marriages with no input from the bride or groom, marriages of convenience to keep inheritances intact, and mail-order brides.
Mail-order brides were women who advertised themselves with the intent to marry. They often placed ads in Western newspapers, or advertised in mail-order bride catalogues. Men would then select a bride from the description given. Sometimes the women came from different countries. Many others came from the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. or Canada. Some were truly looking for love; others were trying to escape a meager existence or bad situation. Some women went for the adventure and were pickier on who they would accept a proposal from, placing great importance on correspondence with the man before she left home. This happened frequently on the American frontier during the 19th century. Since many men were beginning to move from the East to the West, there was an imbalance between men and women. It was rare for a man to find a woman to start a family with, which is why women began traveling to the West. The women would communicate with the men, sending letters and photographs of themselves. The desire to escape their present way of living encouraged women to agree to marry a man before they even met, in hopes they would have more financial security for themselves and future children, and a better life.
