The Mormon Migration

Question 1

who were the Mormons

Answer 1

a religious group that was shunned by other Christians because of some of their practises (polygamy)

Question 2

Reasons for Mormon prosecution

Answer 2

• other religious groups saw Mormon beliefs as blasphemy
• Slave owners were angry that Mormons believed in freeing enslaved people
• Polygamy offended other Christian groups

Question 3

who was the Mormon leader and why did he get killed

Answer 3

Joseph Smith
murdered in Illinois, 1844

Question 4

who became their new leader

Answer 4

Brigham Young

Question 5

when did the advance party leave

Answer 5

April 1847

Question 6

how many people were in the advance party and who was it led by

Answer 6

150 Mormons, led by Young

Question 7

what did the Mormons advance party as they travelled the route

Answer 7

• marked out the most suitable route
• clear the route where needed
• located water sources
• set up river crossings + ferries
• planted vegetable crops along the way

Question 8

by he time Young had reached Salt Lake City in ____ ____ , how many Mormons had left

Answer 8

July 1847
larger wagon train of 1,500 Mormons just set off from Omaha

Question 9

when did the second group arrive at SLC

Answer 9

August 1847

Question 10

Between ____ and ____, __,____ Mormons followed the Mormon trail

Answer 10

1847 and 1869
70,000

Question 11

how did Young prepare the Mormons

Answer 11

• split everyone into manageable groups, each with a leader, right mix of skills –> if groups were separated, everyone would still know what to do
• gave everyone a specific role + insisted in strict discipline –> no arguments + splits unlike Donner
• taught them how to form their wagons into a circle for safety –> keep livestock safe from attack / getting lost**
• regular rest places planned along the route –> ensured people did not exhaust livestock (problem for Donner)

Question 12

Why were the Mormons successful in SLC

Answer 12

• believed Young was God’s prophet - obeyed him completely
• their religious faith encouraged them to work very hard and prevented them giving up in face of terrible hardship
• built irrigation systems from freshwater streams –> had water to grow crops
• in order that the Mormons would have different products they needed , new settlements planned and each one designed to produce particular products : food crops, minerals, timber
  
  • Young sent out a mix of people with the skills each settlement need (blacksmiths, carpenters, millers)
  • each settlement had a Church leader who had authority over everything
  • communities prospered