Utah’s Struggle for Statehood

CHAPTER 9

*Named for Ute Indians

*Proposed name State of Deseret-(Congress said too much like desert)

THE UTAH TERRITORY

Population Grows•Mormons feel threatened•Government interference•Outsiders not agreeing with current practices

•Non-Mormons•Wanted free public schools-No LDS religion

•Polygamy immoral-wanted it stopped•Felt discriminated against if not Mormon

“How much could a person or group be different

and still be considered a good

American?”

Proposed State of Deseret• Notice how Large originally asked for!!

Proposed State of Deseret•1849 Utah Applies for Statehood•LDS leaders hold convention•Deseret chosen (honeybee) Industry

•Proposed state large included Sand Diego, California to Pacific Ocean

•Brigham Young Governor•Other LDS citizens in high political positions

•Application Denied

Compromise of 1850 makes Utah a Territory

•Eastern States divided•North and South divided-Slavery

•California-statehood as free state•Balance of free vs slave states threatened

•Senator Henry Clay-”Great Compromiser”•Proposed California come in as free

•West divided into 2 large territories•1. Utah 2. New Mexico

•Two territories vote to have or not have slavery

•Utah Territorial legislature voted slavery legal

U.S. President Fillmore•Appointed Brigham Young 1st governor-1850

•Appointed Secretary and 3 judges•Mostly inexperienced outsiders moved from East

•Many Utahns angry•Wanted to elect own judges•Utah Vote own legislature**Could send delegate to Congress-but could not vote-Utah run by Federal Government

*Other territories run same way30

Governor Brigham Young

•Organized Territorial Government

•Selected Location of Capital City

•Worked With Leaders of Indian Groups

•Started New Towns all over Territory

•Working Relationship with Federal Government

•Organized Immigration of thousands of New People

•Developed vast Manufacturing & Agriculture Industries

Rumors Lead to War•RumorsA)1850-Judges return to East

and complain of LDS influence.

B)1852-Mormon leaders publicly announce plural marriage.

•C) 1857- Mormons charged with: -Murder of non-Mormons -Destruction of legal records -Unfair treatment of non- Mormons in court

President Buchanan1. Released Young as

governor Alfred Cummings new Gov.

2. Sent a replacement3. Organized army to

stop “rebellion” against federal government.

Mormons Prepare for Army*Brigham Young did not know he was replaced as governor

*Communication was slow*Young believed army bent on destroying religious community.

*Utah’s militia swelled from 100s to over 5000*Plans made to defend SLC

Johnston’s Army•Poorly informed about West•Believed would crush Mormons before snow fell in 1857

•Stopped by Early Snows in Wyoming

Harassing the Army

• Lot Snow•Captain of Utah Militia

•Sent men to harass army -Burned supply wagons -Drove off animals -Destroyed animal feed -Burned Fort Bridger and Fort Supply

Colonel Albert Johnston•New Commander•Army not able to leave Wyoming

•Directed army to make camp and wait for spring thaw

The Move South -Avoid blood shed -Army not to occupy any pioneer settlements -Mormons abandon Northern settlements -Prepared homes, food supplies and fields

to be burned -Buried foundation of the Salt Lake Temple

Camp Floyd and Fort Douglas•Johnston’s Army arrives 2500 soldiers and 1000 civilian employees

•Thru SLC established Camp Floyd in Oquirrh Mountains

•Became 3rd largest city in Utah Territory

POSITIVE IMPACT

•Brought cash to local merchants and farmers

• Paid residents to build buildings

• Sold surplus items

NEGATIVE IMPACT*Prostitutes*Gamblers*Cattle Rustlers

New Utah Governor•Alfred Cumming•Colonel Patrick Connor sent by Lincoln -Watch overland mail route -Polygamy situation -Established Fort Douglas overlooking SLC -Bitter War

The Mountain Meadows Massacre

•Arkansas and Missouri immigrants heading to California

•Slain by Paiutes and Iron County Militia from St. George

•Approx. 120 travelers and only 18 small children left alive

Mountain Meadows

Congress•Attempts to Curb Mormon Influence•The Vote

-1869 Utah women given right to vote, Wyoming only other state

-Prove Utah women not oppressed

Federal Laws (Page 173)•The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act (1862)

•The Poland Bill (1874)•The Edmunds Act (1882)•The Edmunds-Tucker Act (1887)

Polygamy Goes to Court•1879•Protected under Bill of Rights of U.S. Constitution

•Also commandment from God

•Ruling???

Do You Know Where Any Polygamists Are?

•Federal agents hunting polygamists

•Family members and young children told not to talk to strangers

John Taylor•President of LDS Church 1877 after Brigham Young dies

•Shot in Carthage Jail •Ran church from underground-3 wives

•Died underground in 1887

The Manifesto•September 24, 1890 issued by Wilford Woodruff

•“…refrain from contracting any marriages forbidden by the law of the land.”

•President Woodruff hoped would continue operation of the church

•Huge step in Utah gaining statehood