United States History Student Edition

The Mormon migrants to Utah often faced perilous conditions on their journey.

A Haven in the Desert The Mormon migration began in 1846. About 12,000 Mormons made the trek in the largest voluntary migration in American history. The Mormons’ 1,300 mile (2,100 km) route became known as the Mormon Trail and served as a valuable route to the western United States. In 1847, the Mormons reached the Great Salt Lake Valley in present-day Utah. Although part of Mexico at the time, no Mexicans had settled in the region because of its harsh terrain. Brigham Young declared that the Mormons would build a new settlement in the valley. The Mormons staked a claim on the dry, wild land they called Deseret. Soon, they had set up farming communities. At first, life was difficult for the settlers. The Mormons, however, made Deseret flourish through hard work and determination. They carefully planned towns, such as Salt Lake City, and built irrigation canals for their farms. They taxed property and regulated the use of water, timber, and other resources. Mormons also founded industries so they could be self-sufficient. Mormon merchants sold supplies to forty-niners who passed through Utah on their way to California. In 1848, the United States acquired the Salt Lake area from Mexico after the Mexican War. In 1850, Congress established the Utah Territory. Brigham Young was named governor.

By 1860, there were many Mormon communities, but Utah was not easily incorporated into the United States. Problems included the Mormon practice of polygamy and frequent conflicts with federal officials. In 1857 and 1858, war almost broke out between the Mormons and the U.S. Army. Utah did not become a state until 1896, after the Mormons officially gave up the practice of polygamy. 7 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING Identifying Cause and Effect Why did the Mormons keep moving from one place to another? LESSON ACTIVITIES 1. Informative/Explanatory Writing Consider the challenges and opportunities facing a forty-niner. What personal qualities do you think a forty-niner would have to possess to be successful? 2. Presenting With a partner, write a newspaper article about the early Mormon community in the Great Salt Lake Valley. Include in your newspaper article at least one image and one interview. Consider the questions you would ask someone living there at the time. What would that person’s responses be? What would your audience want to know? Present your newspaper article to the class.

incorporate to make a part of something

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