The American age of consent law is based on English common law. The age started at twelve until 1576 the age was lowered to ten. any sexual relations with an underage female without the benift of clergy was a felony(29 ).

Legal Ages of Consent in the United States, 1885 and 1920 (30 )

State

1885

1920

Alabama

10

16

Arizona

10

18

Arkansas

12

16

California

10

18

Colorado

10

18

Connecticut

10

16

Delaware

7

16

District of Columbia

12

16

Florida

10

18

Georgia

10

14

Idaho

10

18

Illinois

10

16

Indiana

n.a.

16

Iowa

10

16

Kansas

10

18

Kentucky

12

16

Louisiana

12

18

Maine

10

16

Maryland

10

16

Massachusetts

10

16

Michigan

10

16

Minnesota

10

18

Mississippi

10

18

Missouri

12

18

Montana

10

18

Nebraska

10

18

Nevada

12

18

New Hampshire

10

16

New Jersey

10

16

New Mexico

10

16

New York

10

18

North Carolina

10

16

North Dakota

10

18

Ohio

10

16

Oregon

n.a.

16

Pennsylvania

10

16

Rhode Island

10

16

South Carolina

10

16

South Dakota

10

18

Tennessee

10

18

Texas

10

18

Utah

10

18

Vermont

10

16

Virginia

12

16

Washington

12

18

West Virginia

12

16

Wisconsin

10

16

Wyoming

10

18

In the 1920's it was reported that that 28 of 100 men and 24 of 100 women committed adultery according to psychiatrist Gilbert Hamilton (31).

In the 1940s and early fifties it was projected that about 50% of men and twenty six percent twenty six percent of women had committed adultery (32 ).

Does the culture war exist? Apparently. What is also apparent that the war is being fought over something that never existed.