The Mormons: persecution (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
The Mormons: persecution
Introduction
The Mormon experience in 19th-century America demonstrates the challenges faced by religious minorities during westward expansion. Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced intense hostility that ultimately drove them to seek refuge in the remote Utah Territory. Understanding Mormon persecution helps explain both the difficulties of religious diversity in early America and the determination of groups seeking freedom from oppression.
The Mormon persecution story illustrates a broader pattern in American history where religious and cultural minorities faced hostility from established communities, often leading to forced migration and the search for safe havens on the frontier.
Joseph Smith and the founding of Mormonism
In 1830, Joseph Smith established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, later known as the Mormons, after claiming he had received divine revelations and ancient scriptures. Smith taught that an angel had provided him with a sacred book from God, and his followers believed he possessed special spiritual authority. This rapid growth of a new religious movement created immediate tension with established Christian communities who viewed Mormon beliefs as threatening to traditional Christianity.
The early Mormon community grew quickly, attracting followers who were drawn to Smith's charismatic leadership and promises of spiritual guidance. However, this very success would soon become a source of conflict with their neighbours.
The rapid growth of the Mormon church - from its founding in 1830 to thousands of followers within just a few years - was both its strength and the source of much of the persecution it faced. Success bred suspicion and fear among established communities.
Causes of Mormon persecution
Religious opposition
Traditional Christian communities were deeply offended by Mormon religious claims. Many Christians viewed Mormon beliefs as blasphemous because Mormons claimed to be the true Christians while suggesting other denominations had lost their way. This religious rivalry created intense hostility, as established churches saw Mormons as a dangerous cult rather than a legitimate faith.
The Mormon practice of continuous revelation through their prophet also challenged traditional Christian authority, leading to theological conflicts that fuelled persecution.
Political and economic tensions
As Mormon communities grew larger, non-Mormons became increasingly worried about their political influence. The tight-knit Mormon communities often voted as a bloc, which threatened to upset local political balances. Americans feared that Smith was planning to overthrow the United States government and establish his own religious state.
Economic competition also played a significant role in anti-Mormon sentiment. Mormon communities were often successful and self-sufficient, which created resentment among neighbouring non-Mormon businesses who felt economically threatened.
The Mormon practice of communal economic cooperation, while beneficial to their own communities, often put them at odds with local business interests who saw them as unfair competition rather than fellow Americans exercising religious freedom.
Social concerns: the polygamy issue
The Mormon practice of polygamy (men having multiple wives) became perhaps the most controversial aspect of their religion. This practice deeply shocked American society, which viewed it as immoral and un-American. The polygamy issue provided opponents with a powerful weapon to use against Mormons, as it violated widely accepted social norms about marriage and family.
Even before polygamy became widely known, rumours and suspicions about Mormon social practices created distrust and hostility in surrounding communities.
Polygamy became the most damaging accusation against Mormons because it violated fundamental American values about family structure and women's rights. This single issue would plague Mormon-American relations for decades, even after the church officially abandoned the practice.
Timeline of persecution: 1831-1848
Key Events in Mormon Persecution Timeline
1831: Following their arrest in New York for causing disturbances, Smith and his wife left for Kirtland, Ohio, where they established a large temple and growing community.
1833: A mob destroyed the Mormon printing office in Independence, Missouri, marking the beginning of violent persecution. Local residents forced many Mormons to flee their homes.
1834: Smith fled to Missouri after being accused of setting up fraudulent savings schemes during the financial crash, which damaged the Mormon community's reputation and resources.
October 1838: The Battle of Crooked River occurred after Mormons attacked a unit of state militia. The governor issued an order expelling all Mormons from Missouri, leading to a mob massacre of Mormons at Haun's Mill. Smith was arrested and imprisoned, spending the next five months in jail.
Early 1839: Under pressure and facing continued violence, Mormons were forced out of Missouri. Brigham Young helped relocate them to Nauvoo, Illinois.
April 1839: Smith escaped from prison and travelled to Nauvoo to rejoin his followers in their new settlement.
The period from 1838-1839 marked the most violent phase of Mormon persecution, with the Missouri government officially ordering their expulsion - an unprecedented action against a religious group in American history.
1843: Rumours spread about controversial new practices introduced by Smith, including polygamy. These practices sparked fresh opposition and anti-Mormon sentiment.
1844: Smith was arrested after ordering his followers to destroy a newspaper company that criticised Mormon practices. While in prison, he was shot and killed by a mob, creating a leadership crisis for the Mormon community.
1846: Thousands of Mormons left Nauvoo led by Brigham Young, facing difficult winter conditions during their departure. They suffered significant hardships during the march westward.
1847: An advance party reached the Great Salt Lake area, outside the boundaries of the United States, where they hoped to find religious freedom and safety from persecution.
1848: Thousands of followers left their winter camps in Iowa and reached the Great Salt Lake region, establishing what would become Utah Territory.
The Great Migration to Utah
The Mormon migration to Utah was one of the largest organised religious migrations in American history. Led by Brigham Young after Joseph Smith's death, approximately 70,000 Mormons made the journey between 1847-1869, travelling over 1,300 miles from the Midwest to the Great Basin.
Consequences and significance
The persecution of Mormons had several important consequences for American history. It demonstrated the challenges of religious tolerance in 19th-century America, showing how quickly religious differences could lead to violence and expulsion. The Mormon experience also highlighted the complex relationship between religious freedom and social conformity in American society.
The forced migration to Utah Territory allowed Mormons to establish a thriving religious community away from persecution, but it also isolated them from mainstream American society for decades. Their successful settlement of the harsh Utah desert proved that determined religious communities could survive and prosper even in difficult circumstances.
The Mormon settlement of Utah demonstrated both the possibilities and limitations of American religious freedom. While they found safety in isolation, their separation from mainstream America created new challenges when Utah eventually sought statehood.
The Mormon persecution also contributed to debates about religious freedom and the limits of acceptable religious practice, particularly regarding polygamy, which would continue to influence American law and society well into the 20th century.
The Mormon experience established important precedents about the boundaries of religious freedom in America - showing that while the Constitution protected religious belief, certain religious practices could still face legal and social restrictions if they conflicted with accepted American values.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
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Joseph Smith founded the Mormon church in 1830 but was killed by a mob in 1844, leading to Brigham Young taking over leadership
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Persecution had multiple causes: religious opposition from other Christians, fear of Mormon political power, economic competition, and outrage over polygamy
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Mormons were driven from multiple states - from New York to Ohio to Missouri to Illinois - before finally settling in Utah Territory in 1847-1848
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The Great Salt Lake settlement in 1847 provided Mormons with a refuge outside US borders where they could practice their religion freely
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Mormon persecution demonstrates the challenges of religious diversity in 19th-century America and the lengths to which groups would go to achieve religious freedom