Struggle for Statehood

Question

Background Information

Vocabulary

Mormon - A nickname for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Saint - A nickname for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

LDS - An abbreviation of the church’s name, short for Latter-Day Saints.

The Church - A shortened way to say the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gentile - A nickname used in Utah for someone who was not a member of the Church.

Polygamy - When a man has more than one wife, a doctrine practiced in the Church until 1890.

People’s Party - A political party representing LDS views.

Liberal Party - A political party representing Gentile views.

Territory - An official recognition of a region belonging to the US, usually in preparation for statehood, with some rights but under the federal government’s control.

State - An officially recognized region with the same rights of self-government as other states in the United States.

Theocracy - A government run by religious leaders.

Unconstitutional - A law that is illegal because it doesn’t follow the Constitution.

Constitutional - A law that is legal because it follows the Constitution.

Introduction

It Took Utah a Long Time to Become a State

From 1849 to 1896, Utah asked to become a state seven times—but the first six were rejected. During this same time, 14 other states were approved, most on their first try. You’ll read old newspaper articles and documents to find out why Utah had to wait 47 years.

Why People Were Against Utah Statehood

Most people in Utah were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called Mormons or Saints). Many Newspapers outside Utah spread rumors, lies, and other negative opinions about the Saints. Some Saints made mistakes that increased opposition to statehood. Since Utah was far away and hard to reach, people in the East didn’t know what life there was really like.

1849 – First Try at Statehood

The Saints moved to Salt Lake Valley in 1847, which was part of Mexico. In 1848, the U.S. took over the land after a war with Mexico. In 1849, the Saints asked to create a huge state called Deseret, but Congress said no. Instead, in 1850, the U.S. made it the Utah Territory.

Why Statehood Mattered

Territories could have their own governments, but the U.S. government still had control. The President picked the governor and judges. States could elect their own leaders and had more freedom. Utahns wanted to make their own decisions—but Congress didn’t trust them.

1856 – Second Try

In 1852, Church leaders announced they supported polygamy (men having more than one wife). Most Americans thought this was wrong. The new Republican Party strongly opposed it. Some federal officials didn’t get along with Brigham Young and said bad things about Utah. The request was denied again.

1862 – Third Try

The Civil War was happening, and Congress had bigger problems. But there were other issues: In 1857, the U.S. Army was sent to remove Brigham Young as governor. The Mountain Meadows Massacre happened, and many Americans blamed all Saints. In 1862, Congress passed a law making polygamy illegal, but many Saints ignored it. They thought it was unconstitutional.

1876 – Fourth Try

Big changes had come to Utah by 1876. In 1869, the railroad connected Utah to the rest of the country. Mining brought more non-Mormons (called Gentiles) to Utah. Women in Utah got the right to vote in 1870. Mormon leaders still won most elections, and Gentiles claimed Utah was run by a church. Congress passed another law to stop polygamy. Utah’s request was rejected again.

1882 – Fifth Try

In 1882, things were different in Utah and the United States. Brigham Young died, and John Taylor became Church president. The Supreme Court said anti-polygamy laws were constitutional. Church leaders still practiced polygamy. More Gentiles moved to Utah and wanted more control. The request for statehood was denied again.

1887 – Sixth Try

More changes had come to Utah by 1887. Many church leaders went into hiding to avoid being arrested by federal officials. Congress passed the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which took away the vote from polygamists and women and took Church property. More Gentiles moved to Utah for mining and other jobs. Utah was growing, but the Saints were still not trusted.

1894 – Final (Successful) Try

In 1887, Wilford Woodruff became the Church president. In 1890, he announced that the Church would end polygamy (called The Manifesto). The Church’s political party ended, and members joined Democrats or Republicans. Women worked to get back voting rights. In 1895, Congress allowed Utah to write a state constitution. On January 4, 1896, Utah finally became a state!

Inside the Salt Lake Tabernacle during the Statehood Celebration in January 1896. Photo courtesy of the George D. Pyper photograph collection, Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library.

Your Task as a Historian

You will look at real historical documents, especially newspapers, to answer two questions:

Why did the U.S. reject Utah’s applications for statehood?
Did the reasons stay the same or change over time?

Some of the documents you look at will say bad things about the Saints. Remember that your purpose in reading these documents is to try to figure out what people outside of Utah thought about Utahns. Sometimes the things outsiders said were untrue and sometimes they were true, but the important thing for your work is to see what outsiders were saying during debates over Utah statehood.

A Note on Social Media Today

Back then, newspapers were like today’s social media—a mix of facts, opinions, hateful statements, and lies. When reading these newspapers or social media today, a person should ask:

Who wrote this?
Why are they saying it?
What’s fact and what’s opinion?
Do they have evidence?
What do other sources say?

Timeline

1847 - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settle in the Salt Lake Valley, part of Mexican territory.

1848 - The U.S. takes Utah and other lands from Mexico.

1849 - Utahns apply for statehood as the State of Deseret.

1850 - Utah’s application for statehood is rejected. The Utah Territory is formed. Deseret News becomes a newspaper of the Saints.

1852 - Church leaders publicly announce that polygamy is being practiced as an official church doctrine.

1856 - The Republican Party platform opposes slavery and polygamy. Utah applies for statehood.

1857 - The Utah War brings an army to Utah and leads to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

1860 - The Pony Express links Utah to the eastern states.

1861 - The Transcontinental Telegraph links Utah to the eastern states as the Civil War breaks out.

1862 - Utah applies for statehood. Congress passes anti-polygamy laws.

1864 - Nevada becomes a state, cutting off part of the Utah Territory.

1868 - The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper is created, which becomes a voice of the Gentiles.

1869 - The Transcontinental Railroad is completed, expanding mining in the state and bringing thousands of Gentiles to Utah.

1870 - Women gain the right to vote in Utah. The People’s Party, a political party representing the Saints, and the Liberal Party, representing the Gentiles, were formed.

1874 - Stronger anti-polygamy laws are passed.

1876 - Colorado becomes a state, establishing Utah’s eastern border. Utah applies for statehood.

1877 - Brigham Young died. John Taylor replaced him as president of the church.

1879 - The Supreme Court rules against a man in a polygamy case, deciding that freedom of religion does not include polygamy.

1882 - Utah applies for statehood.

1885 - Many Saints join the Underground to avoid federal official Raids.

1887 - New laws take the right to vote from Utah women and polygamists. John Taylor dies, and Wilford Woodruff becomes president of the Church. Utah applies for statehood.

1890 - Wilford Woodruff issues the Manifesto, ending the church’s support of polygamy.

1891 - The People’s Party, a political party of the Saints, was disbanded.