Persecution of the Mormons in the East

What are Mormons?

Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Why were the Mormons important in the history of the American West?

The Mormons are an example of how people were able to successfully travel and settle in the west.

Who was the leader of the Mormons?

Joseph Smith was the founder and first leader of the Mormons.

Why were the Mormons persecuted?

There are 7 reasons why the Mormons faced persecution by white Americans in the east.

• ❖ The Mormons expanded rapidly, leading people to fear they were trying to take over.
• ❖ The Mormons moved into their own communities, which made people fearful of them. In 1833, the Mormons' printing press was destroyed in Independence, Missouri.
• ❖ The Mormons had a militia group called the Danites, who clashed with non-Mormons at the Battle of Crooked River in 1838.
• ❖ There was a financial crash in the 1830s, and people blamed the Mormons.
• ❖ In Nauvoo, the Mormons announced that they practised polygamy, which was against the Christian beliefs of most Americans. Many Americans thought that this was blasphemy.
• ❖ The Mormons encouraged the freeing of slaves, which went against the beliefs of most people in the southern states. This belief saw them forced out of Missouri.
• ❖ Americans were genuinely worried that Joseph Smith was trying to overthrow the United States government.

When did the Mormons go west?

Brigham Young moved all of the Mormons west in 1846-1847.

Where did the Mormons travel to?

The Mormons moved west to the Great Salt Lake (now in the state of Utah).

When did the Mormons reach Salt Lake?

The Mormons reached the Great Salt Lake in July 1847.

How did the Mormons organise the journey to Salt Lake?

The president of the Mormon church, Brigham Young, carefully planned the journey. It was organised in 6 main ways.

• ❖ 16,000 people were formed into groups of 100 wagons, each with a leader.
• ❖ Each member of the group had a job and a purpose.
• ❖ Young researched the journey thoroughly.
• ❖ Young ensured discipline was tight.
• ❖ Young organised the Mormons at the Camp of Israel, ensuring that they reached the previously built Winter Quarters by autumn.
• ❖ A pioneer band of 143 strong people was sent ahead to the Great Salt Lake, to clear and ready the route, and to prepare a site for settlement.

What problems did the Mormons face on their journey west?

The Mormons faced 3 main problems on their journey.

• ❖ It was long - more than 1,000 miles.
• ❖ The weather was unpredictable.
• ❖ They didn't know what they'd find when they reached their destination.

In what ways were the Mormons successful at Salt Lake?

The Mormons successfully settled at the Great Salt Lake. There are 8 reasons for this success.

• ❖ Their leader, Brigham Young, was highly respected and a brilliant organiser.
• ❖ They used irrigation systems to divert water from the mountains into the dry land around the Great Salt Lake.
• ❖ They used sod (mud) bricks to make houses, as wood was in short supply.
• ❖ Brigham Young told the Mormons that all land was owned by the Church. He shared out the land according to need, so the bigger families had more land.
• ❖ When the Mormons first arrived at the Great Salt Lake it was part of Mexico. Brigham Young negotiated with the US government, who incorporated it into the United States, calling the territory Utah from 1850.
• ❖ The Mormons charged travellers for the right to cross their land, which boosted their economy.
• ❖ Settlements were carefully organised. Each family was given a different task, so that the whole area could be self-sufficient.
• ❖ They encouraged people to come to the Great Salt Lake from all around the world, by creating the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. This meant that money could be given to migrants to pay for their journey to America.

What is the significance of Salt Lake to the Mormons?

Salt Lake is the area where the Mormons settled after their journey west. It is now in the American state of Utah. Salt Lake City is the current headquarters of the Mormon Church.