A Journey for Religious Freedom

Vocabulary (IN Page 140) Vocabulary TermDefinitionIllustration Colonize Communal Convert Exodus Extermination Libel Martyr Persecute

Warm-Up (IN Page 138 BOTTOM)  What do we mean when we say “freedom of religion”?  Freedom of religion means…  Is there any time when you think the government should be able to limit this freedom? Explain your answer.  The government should be able to limit freedom of religion because… OR  The government should NOT be able to limit freedom of religion because…

Set-Up Cornell Notes (IN Page )  Title: A Journey for Religious Freedom  Essential Question: What forced Mormon settlers into Utah?  **Your “Summary Section” can go on page 142**

Setting the Stage  While many people were passing through the Great Basin, the Mormons wanted to settle in the area known today as Utah  They were looking for religious freedom and solitude

Beginnings  The LDS (Latter-Day Saint) Church started in New York  People that did not support this new religious group tormented them causing them to move from place to place

On the move…  Mormons first moved to Kirtland, Ohio and then to Missouri  Missouri’s Governor Boggs issued “extermination orders” telling all Mormons to leave or be killed   Their next location was Nauvoo, Illinois

Problems in Nauvoo  Nauvoo was a safe haven for Mormons for years  Once their numbers grew, however, nearby townspeople began to feel uncomfortable  Problems arose in Nauvoo when some began printing negative statements about Joseph Smith  Smith was eventually arrested and murdered in jail

The Move West…  Thousands of Mormons left Illinois and headed west, led by Brigham Young  This group of settlers took time to prepare and educated themselves about their new home

The Mormon Trail  The trail along the northern side of the Platte River came to be known as the Mormon Trail.  The Oregon Trail ran along the southern side of the same river.

Moving West- A Difficult Task  Moving along their trail during the Winter was cold and miserable  They set up “Winter Quarters” a camp of log cabins in Nebraska  They faced disease, cold, not enough food and warm clothes causing many to die

Misunderstanding & Conflict  Mormons & their neighbors frequently fought over differences about religion, politics & economics.

Misunderstanding & Conflict 1. People of other religions did not believe what Mormons believed and they were upset about this 2. The Mormons believed they should have a “gathering place” meaning lots of them would move into an area 3. In elections, Mormons usually voted as a block for the same people which worried others that they might take over the government 4. When they lived in Ohio, Mormons lived in communal economic style. They gave what they had to the church to be distributed for everyone, giving church leaders lots of power 5. In Missouri, Mormons were against slavery while many others were for it 6. Some Mormons practiced polygamy (plural marriage). Some men had more than one wife which made others uncomfortable