Struggle for Statehood Chapter 9 Struggle for Statehood

Utah’s Statehood 1847 Mormons Settle Utah 1896 Statehood for Utah

Number Heads together What are some possible reasons that Utah would not have been granted Statehood earlier?

The Mood For 50 years there has been progress Large cities Building a rich state of various cultures

The issues Mormon church leaders also control business and government Polygamy The Rumor mill Utah petitions 6 times for statehood, denied all 6 Times

Number Heads Together If the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and religion says polygamy should be practiced, why can’t Mormons practice Polygamy?

Why not Polygamy was seen to be immoral and against the natural law When religion breaks the laws given by the constitution, religion is wrong If religion called for human sacrifice for example, it would not be allowed

Utah Admitted as a territory In 1850, slavery is a huge deal The Slave states don’t want more free states The Free states don’t want more slave states Utah is admitted under the policy that they will choose whether to allow slavery or not

First Territorial Governor All in all, for white settlers, Brigham Young did a lot for Utah Started many settlements across the state Led the way for a lot of interesting policies in Utah

Other Religions in Utah Other religions start coming to Utah’s in the 1860’s In order to make them feel more welcome, Brigham Young allows them to meet and speak in the SLC Tabernacle Orson Pratt Debates Polygamy for 3 days

Polygamy

Congress attempts to Curb Mormon Influence The US government thought that if Utah women could vote they would vote to end polygamy, thought women were oppressed Utah’s leaders knew that women would vote to continue polygamy

Utah’s Answer Give women the right to vote Only Wyoming beat Utah to the punch Later to punish polygamists it was taken away

Federal Laws to Punish Polygamy The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act No one could be married to more than one person at a time The Poland Bill Put federally appointed judges in charge of territorial courts The Edmunds Act Polygamy is punishable by 5 years in prison The Edmunds-Tucker Act Required wives to testify against their husbands and took their right to vote

Issues with Utah Statehood John W. Gunnison’s Theo-Democracy report A “Mormon Stranglehold” on government Utah-Mormon Culture, because of the huge majority, creates an alienating culture

Polygamy goes to court Reynolds v. The United States Holding- The constitution protects the belief, but not necessarily the practice of religion “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

Number Heads Together What is your opinion on the court decision? How would you have voted?

Cohab hunts Hunting for cohabitants, or people living together Most Mormon men would rather go to prison, than abandon their families

Cohab Hunts Most Federal agents go after children Offer $20 for any information leading to the capture of a polygamist Story

John Taylor With Joseph Smith at Carthage Jail Went into hiding rather than be arrested for polygamy Died in hiding in 1887

The Manifesto Huge step in helping Utah Territory achieve statehood “I publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriages forbidden by the law of the land.” –Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints