In 1850, President Millard Fillmore named Brigham Young the first governor of Utah territory. Then reports spread that Mormon leaders disregarded federal law and publicly sanctioned polygamy. In 1857, President James Buchanan removed Young (he had over 20 wives and one must wonder how he…procreated with all his other duties) as governor, and sent U.S. Army troops to Utah to establish federal authority. Tensions continued until Wilford Woodruff, president of the Mormon Church, issued his 1890 Manifesto. In it, he renounced the traditional practice of polygamy and reduced the domination of the church over Utah communities. Renunciation of polygamy was also a key factor in statehood.
Six years later, the territory of Utah was made the 45th state.
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4643
http://www.utah.com/visitor/state_facts/statehood.htm
http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/statehood_and_the_progressive_era/struggleforstatehood.html
Thursday, January 04, 2007
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History in America wouldn't be the same without the Mormon pioneers. It behooves us, however, to be reminded that they were in fact outlaws on the run, literally, in some cases, for breaking U.S. laws on matters such as polygamy. (Yes, that crime is still a problem in Utah, but less so). Nice blog.
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