The Mormon The Mormon MigrationMigration

The Church of Jesus The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Christ of Latter Day

SaintsSaints Organized in 1830 Organized in 1830

in Fayette, NYin Fayette, NY By the charismatic By the charismatic

Joseph SmithJoseph Smith (1805 (1805 - 1844)- 1844)

The church grew The church grew rapidly but suffered rapidly but suffered persecution at the persecution at the hands of its hands of its Protestant Protestant neighbors.neighbors.

Trouble for the Trouble for the MormonsMormons

The The Mormons fled Mormons fled to Ohio, then to Ohio, then Missouri, and then to Nauvoo, IL.Missouri, and then to Nauvoo, IL.

By 1844 By 1844 there were 20,000 in Nauvoo there were 20,000 in Nauvoo and and Smith and some of the group’s Smith and some of the group’s leaders had begun to practice leaders had begun to practice polygamy polygamy in secret.in secret.

This fact leaked and Smith This fact leaked and Smith and his and his brother brother were killed by an outraged mobwere killed by an outraged mob

Two years later Nauvoo was sacked Two years later Nauvoo was sacked and the new leader decided to move and the new leader decided to move the group west.the group west.

Brigham YoungBrigham Young

Second President of the Second President of the Mormon ChurchMormon Church

Born in VT, carpenter, Born in VT, carpenter, glazier, and painter.glazier, and painter.

Became a Mormon in Became a Mormon in 18321832

Quickly showed Quickly showed administrative talent and administrative talent and rose quickly to the ruling rose quickly to the ruling Council of Twelve.Council of Twelve.

In 1838 led the migration In 1838 led the migration to from MO to ILto from MO to IL

The Mormon MigrationThe Mormon Migration

Young initially led 5,000 Young initially led 5,000 Mormons in to the Mormons in to the Platte Valley, through Platte Valley, through the Rockies, and the Rockies, and ultimately into the Salt ultimately into the Salt Lake Valley just west of Lake Valley just west of the Wasatch Mountains the Wasatch Mountains and established Salt and established Salt Lake City.Lake City.

Thanks to Young’s Thanks to Young’s administrative skills, administrative skills, the migration was one the migration was one of the best organized in of the best organized in US history.US history.

The Mormon MigrationThe Mormon Migration

Young created an Young created an almost military almost military organization with organization with groups of 10, 50, and groups of 10, 50, and 100 all having leaders.100 all having leaders.

Leaders chose Leaders chose stopping places, and stopping places, and then sent advance then sent advance groups ahead to find groups ahead to find the best route, dig the best route, dig wells, and sometimes wells, and sometimes planted crops and planted crops and built cabinsbuilt cabins..

The Building of Salt The Building of Salt Lake CityLake City

Young kept the men Young kept the men busy constructing busy constructing housing, meeting housing, meeting houses, and mills houses, and mills for those who would for those who would follow.follow.

The groups had The groups had clear daily routines clear daily routines and instructions for and instructions for wagon formations, wagon formations, management of management of stock animals, stock animals, record keeping, and record keeping, and more.more.

Mormon UtahMormon Utah

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

The Mormon MigrationThe Mormon Migration

Eventually more than 20,000 Eventually more than 20,000 Mormons successfully migrated to Mormons successfully migrated to the area with a much lower fatality the area with a much lower fatality rate than other westward migrationsrate than other westward migrations..

The US government honored him by The US government honored him by naming him Governor and Indian naming him Governor and Indian Superintendent of the Utah Territory.Superintendent of the Utah Territory.

Polygamy and Its Polygamy and Its EffectsEffects

In 1852, the Mormons In 1852, the Mormons publicly announced publicly announced their practice of their practice of polygamy and polygamy and outraged the US outraged the US government. government.

Young lost his Young lost his government positions government positions and President and President Buchanan sent an Buchanan sent an army force initiating army force initiating the Utah Warthe Utah War..

Polygamy instead of Polygamy instead of SlaverySlavery

In 1862 a second In 1862 a second attack was made on attack was made on the Mormons and the Mormons and the government the government outlawed bigamy. outlawed bigamy.

Young was placed Young was placed under house arrest under house arrest and eventually and eventually jailed. Even though jailed. Even though Young had many Young had many wives, he was found wives, he was found innocent in 1871.innocent in 1871.

Young’s LegacyYoung’s Legacy

Young founded four temples,Young founded four temples, three colleges,three colleges, and directed the founding of 360 and directed the founding of 360

Mormon settlements throughout Mormon settlements throughout the Westthe West..

Donner Party Donner Party

Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen

Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen

James Reed & Wife

James Reed & Wife

Of the 87 members of the Donner Party, only 46 survived to get to California!

An Alternative Route An Alternative Route

Lansford W. HastingsLansford W. Hastings– Lawyer from Mt. Vernon, OHLawyer from Mt. Vernon, OH– Hoping to send a tide of Hoping to send a tide of

Americans flooding west to Americans flooding west to occupy the province, he occupy the province, he published published The Emigrants' Guide The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and Californiato Oregon and California. .

– It painted California as Eden It painted California as Eden – It advertised a new and faster It advertised a new and faster

route across the Great Basin—a route across the Great Basin—a shortcut no one had ever seen—shortcut no one had ever seen—including Hastings himselfincluding Hastings himself

Hastings CutoffHastings Cutoff It left the California Trail at It left the California Trail at

Fort Bridger ,WYFort Bridger ,WY Passed through the Passed through the

Wasatch Mountains, across Wasatch Mountains, across the Great Salt Lake Desertthe Great Salt Lake Desert

Rejoined the California Rejoined the California Trail about seven miles Trail about seven miles west of modern Elko, west of modern Elko, Nevada.Nevada.

Supposed to save Supposed to save emigrants 350-450 miles emigrants 350-450 miles

The Donner Party’s The Donner Party’s Fateful DecisionFateful Decision Hastings letter to all emigrants offers to Hastings letter to all emigrants offers to

personally guide them through the cutoffpersonally guide them through the cutoff Little Sandy River was the parting of ways—Little Sandy River was the parting of ways—

Hastings’ Cutoff or the mapped routeHastings’ Cutoff or the mapped route Most emigrants heed Clyman’s warning. But, Most emigrants heed Clyman’s warning. But,

on July 20on July 20thth, 20 wagons including the Donner’s , 20 wagons including the Donner’s and the Reed’s turn toward Fort Bridgerand the Reed’s turn toward Fort Bridger

Donner is chosen the party leader because Donner is chosen the party leader because Reed was too “aristocratic” Reed was too “aristocratic”

When they arrive, Hastings is gone. He leads When they arrive, Hastings is gone. He leads another group, but promises to leave another group, but promises to leave instructions for any that wish to followinstructions for any that wish to follow

The CutoffThe Cutoff For a week they made good time, following For a week they made good time, following

the track of Hastings's wagons. the track of Hastings's wagons. Then on August 6th, the party came to a Then on August 6th, the party came to a

halt. Stuck in the top of some sage near the halt. Stuck in the top of some sage near the trail was a trail was a note. Stating the road ahead was note. Stating the road ahead was virtually impassable and advised them to virtually impassable and advised them to wait until Hastings could show them a better wait until Hastings could show them a better way. way.

It took James Reed 5 days to find Hastings It took James Reed 5 days to find Hastings on horseback on horseback

He refused to come to lead the company He refused to come to lead the company himself, pointing out what he thought might himself, pointing out what he thought might be a more manageable route from a high be a more manageable route from a high peak instead. peak instead.

The Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake DesertDesert

““Two days ...two nights ... hard Two days ...two nights ... hard driving ... across desert ... reach driving ... across desert ... reach water.'‘water.'‘

Taking on as much grass and Taking on as much grass and water as possible, they started water as possible, they started across the plainsacross the plains

5 days and 80 miles later they 5 days and 80 miles later they crossed the desertcrossed the desert

It was twice as long as Hastings It was twice as long as Hastings claimedclaimed

36 head of oxen and many wagons 36 head of oxen and many wagons were lostwere lost

Many cursed Hastings for the false Many cursed Hastings for the false statements in his letter and for not statements in his letter and for not being there at Fort Bridger being there at Fort Bridger

LossLoss

After a inventory of the supplies, they discover they will After a inventory of the supplies, they discover they will not have enough food to reach Californianot have enough food to reach California

William McCutcheon and Charles Stanton ride ahead to William McCutcheon and Charles Stanton ride ahead to bring back reliefbring back relief

In Sept, Donner Party reached the Humboldt River where In Sept, Donner Party reached the Humboldt River where the shortcut rejoined the old trail the shortcut rejoined the old trail

““Shortcut” ended up being 125 miles longer Shortcut” ended up being 125 miles longer In early September Lansford Hastings rode into Sutter's In early September Lansford Hastings rode into Sutter's

Fort at the head of a battered train of 80 wagons. Except Fort at the head of a battered train of 80 wagons. Except for the Donner Party, all the emigrants of 1846 had for the Donner Party, all the emigrants of 1846 had made it safely through to California.made it safely through to California.

Failed Attempt for Failed Attempt for Relief Relief

Reed reaches Sutter’s Reed reaches Sutter’s Fort Fort

He attempts to arrange He attempts to arrange a relief party, but they a relief party, but they were forced to turn back were forced to turn back due to snowdue to snow

No other relief was able, No other relief was able, as all men went to fight as all men went to fight in the Mexican American in the Mexican American WarWar

The Inevitable End The Inevitable End

Every attempt to make it pass the Every attempt to make it pass the snow ended in failuresnow ended in failure

Party members dying from Party members dying from malnutrition malnutrition

Every family resorts to cannibalism Every family resorts to cannibalism except the Reeds in order to surviveexcept the Reeds in order to survive

Almost 1 year since they left, the Almost 1 year since they left, the last remaining emigrants reached last remaining emigrants reached Johnson’s ranchJohnson’s ranch

Of the 87 men, women and children Of the 87 men, women and children in the Donner Party, 46 survived in the Donner Party, 46 survived

41 died: 5 women, 14 children and 41 died: 5 women, 14 children and 22 men22 men

All of the Donner family died, all of All of the Donner family died, all of the Reed’s survived the Reed’s survived