1. The Mormon Migration

2. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Organized in 1830 in Fayette, NY
By the charismatic Joseph Smith ( )
The church grew rapidly but suffered persecution at the hands of its Protestant neighbors.

3. Trouble for the Mormons
The Mormons fled to Ohio, then Missouri, and then to Nauvoo, IL.
By 1844 there were 20,000 in Nauvoo and Smith and some of the group’s leaders had begun to practice polygamy in secret.
This fact leaked and Smith and his brother were killed by an outraged mob
Two years later Nauvoo was sacked and the new leader decided to move the group west.

4. Brigham Young Second President of the Mormon Church
Born in VT, carpenter, glazier, and painter.
Became a Mormon in 1832
Quickly showed administrative talent and rose quickly to the ruling Council of Twelve.
In 1838 led the migration to from MO to IL

5. The Mormon Migration
Young initially led 5,000 Mormons in to the Platte Valley, through the Rockies, and ultimately into the Salt Lake Valley just west of the Wasatch Mountains and established Salt Lake City.
Thanks to Young’s administrative skills, the migration was one of the best organized in US history.

6. The Mormon Migration
Young created an almost military organization with groups of 10, 50, and 100 all having leaders.
Leaders chose stopping places, and then sent advance groups ahead to find the best route, dig wells, and sometimes planted crops and built cabins.

7. The Building of Salt Lake City
Young kept the men busy constructing housing, meeting houses, and mills for those who would follow.
The groups had clear daily routines and instructions for wagon formations, management of stock animals, record keeping, and more.

8. Mormon Utah
Once the Mormons reached Utah, all shared ownership of timber and water. They used irrigation to create flourishing settlements and farms even in this arid region.

9. The Mormon Migration
Eventually more than 20,000 Mormons successfully migrated to the area with a much lower fatality rate than other westward migrations.
The US government honored him by naming him Governor and Indian Superintendent of the Utah Territory.

10. Polygamy and Its Effects
In 1852, the Mormons publicly announced their practice of polygamy and outraged the US government.
Young lost his government positions and President Buchanan sent an army force initiating the Utah War.

11. Polygamy instead of Slavery
In 1862 a second attack was made on the Mormons and the government outlawed bigamy.
Young was placed under house arrest and eventually jailed. Even though Young had many wives, he was found innocent in 1871.

12. Young’s Legacy Young founded four temples, three colleges,
and directed the founding of 360 Mormon settlements throughout the West.

13. Donner Party Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen
Of the 87 members of the Donner Party, only 46 survived to get to California!
James Reed & Wife

14. An Alternative Route Lansford W. Hastings Lawyer from Mt. Vernon, OH
Hoping to send a tide of Americans flooding west to occupy the province, he published The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California.
It painted California as Eden
It advertised a new and faster route across the Great Basin—a shortcut no one had ever seen—including Hastings himself

15. Hastings Cutoff It left the California Trail at Fort Bridger ,WY
Passed through the Wasatch Mountains, across the Great Salt Lake Desert
Rejoined the California Trail about seven miles west of modern Elko, Nevada.
Supposed to save emigrants miles

16. The Donner Party’s Fateful Decision
Hastings letter to all emigrants offers to personally guide them through the cutoff
Little Sandy River was the parting of ways—Hastings’ Cutoff or the mapped route
Most emigrants heed Clyman’s warning. But, on July 20th, 20 wagons including the Donner’s and the Reed’s turn toward Fort Bridger
Donner is chosen the party leader because Reed was too “aristocratic”
When they arrive, Hastings is gone. He leads another group, but promises to leave instructions for any that wish to follow

17. The Cutoff
For a week they made good time, following the track of Hastings's wagons.
Then on August 6th, the party came to a halt. Stuck in the top of some sage near the trail was a note. Stating the road ahead was virtually impassable and advised them to wait until Hastings could show them a better way.
It took James Reed 5 days to find Hastings on horseback
He refused to come to lead the company himself, pointing out what he thought might be a more manageable route from a high peak instead.

18. The Great Salt Lake Desert
“Two days ...two nights ... hard driving ... across desert ... reach water.'‘
Taking on as much grass and water as possible, they started across the plains
5 days and 80 miles later they crossed the desert
It was twice as long as Hastings claimed
36 head of oxen and many wagons were lost
Many cursed Hastings for the false statements in his letter and for not being there at Fort Bridger

19. Loss
After a inventory of the supplies, they discover they will not have enough food to reach California
William McCutcheon and Charles Stanton ride ahead to bring back relief
In Sept, Donner Party reached the Humboldt River where the shortcut rejoined the old trail
“Shortcut” ended up being 125 miles longer
In early September Lansford Hastings rode into Sutter's Fort at the head of a battered train of 80 wagons. Except for the Donner Party, all the emigrants of 1846 had made it safely through to California.

20. Failed Attempt for Relief
Reed reaches Sutter’s Fort
He attempts to arrange a relief party, but they were forced to turn back due to snow
No other relief was able, as all men went to fight in the Mexican American War

21. The Inevitable End
Every attempt to make it pass the snow ended in failure
Party members dying from malnutrition
Every family resorts to cannibalism except the Reeds in order to survive
Almost 1 year since they left, the last remaining emigrants reached Johnson’s ranch
Of the 87 men, women and children in the Donner Party, 46 survived
41 died: 5 women, 14 children and 22 men
All of the Donner family died, all of the Reed’s survived