[ansel12]

You have to remember marriage as a universal institution is relatively new. In the last two hundred years, it went from the lower class has no exception (or ability) to get married to the high marriage rates of the early 1900’s.Simply put, the lower classes have have typically had lower rates of wedlock throughout history.

Remember? I have never heard of it. Poor people in Western Civilization couldn't marry?

I would like to see the sources for that.

[redgolum]

I will reply in depth later as typing on my phone sucks. Marriage rates for the lower classes in Europe were very low in the 17th and 18th century. If you look at English and French records from the time, there was a large class of unmarried men and illegitimate children. Marriage was expensive and many laborers in cities did not marry.