Session 7

• The territory around Salt Lake became part of the United States because the USA defeated Mexico in war


  1848
• Deseret


  New Mormon state Young wanted to establish, also called "Honeybee"
• Utah Territory created


  1. Young as first governor

  2. Non-Mormons (Gentiles) also in government
• Young's word was still law and the Mormons were now free to build their Kingdom of God</b>
• Mormons charging high prices for ferry crossings and supplies

  Rumours spread that Mormons were enlisting Indians to kill Gentiles
• US government sent 2500 troops and a new non-Mormon governor to march against the Mormons


  June 1857
• Mormon War of 1857-8


  1. Mormons mobilised defence forces (Nauvoo League)

  2. Towns abandoned as people fled to Salt Lake City

  3. Guerrilla attacks on approaching army
• Neither side wanted to fight, only 150 casualties in total
• Tensions in the area because of the invading force

  Attack on a group of 140 emigrants
• Young had declared martial law and instructed Mormons not to trade with non-Mormons


  Attack on the 140 emigrants
• The emigrants came from Arkansas where a Mormon leader had been murdered


  Attack on the 140 emigrants
• The emigrants had been behaving badly and provoked the Mormons or the Indians


  Attack on the 140 emigrants
• Attack on the Wagon

  1. 7 killed

  2. 5-day siege

  3. Mormons decided to kill all emigrants to prevent news leaking out

  4. Emigrants tricked into leaving and killed except 17 children
• Mormons tried to blame the Indians and the investigation was hampered by the Mormons
• In 1877 one Mormon, John Lee, was executed for the massacre
• News of the massacre inflamed public opinion against the Mormons


  More troops sent
• Mormons forced to pack up and flee from expected attack


  News swung public opinion back to the Mormons
• In the end a peaceful settlement was made, Mormons had to accept a Gentile governor
• When Mormons agreed to ban polygamy in 1896, Utah became a state