In 2002, a whopping 955,000 divorces were recorded nationwide. Compared to the 1950 total, 385,000, there is no doubt that the divorce rate in American society is only becoming more prevalent. Of course, there are hundreds of reasons why couples choose divorce, but the vast majority of them can be attributed to the major social changes that have occurred over the last 100 to 50 years. The research in this article will examine key transformations in the American lifestyle that directly affect marriage. For example, liberal divorce laws, economic factors, women's independence, and religious factors. What makes marriage so vulnerable to these factors is that the changes have been so diverse that it is almost inevitable that a couple will face at least one of these issues. Furthermore, these aspects of life can impact marriage independently, but often coincide with each other. There is no single reason of responsibility for unsuccessful marriages, but rather it is a multifaceted network of various reasons. While some of these changes in American society have been seen as progress for the nation as a whole, they can create a complex “snowball effect” in the world of happy endings. Perhaps the most notable social change in the last century would be the independence of the American nation. women. While this is undoubtedly an overall positive change, it has actually impacted the marriage. The growing role of women in the workforce has made traditional family life difficult to say the least. The most obvious impact this has on family life is that women no longer stay at home to cook, clean and live for their husbands and children. One problem this creates is that women no longer depend on their husbands for a living. It is entirely possible that a... half-document... a divorce will occur" (1893). American law review (8755-481X), 27, p. 876. Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diseases, 21 November 2013. Web. 11 March 2014.Coontz, Stephanie (01/03/2007), p. 7.Galston, William A (06/01/1996). The Public Interest (0033-3557), (124), p ; Social Interpretation. New York: Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill Book, 1931. Print.Lowenstein, Ludwig F. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 2005, vol. Academic research completedParrillo, Vincent N (01/01/2008). "Divorce" in Encyclopedia of Social Problems (1-4129-4165-2, 978-1-4129-4165-5), (p. 247).Sclater, Shelley Day. Divorce: A Psychosocial Study, Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 1999. Print.