Utah’s Journey to Statehood.

1. Utah’s Journey to Statehood.

2. Bell Ringer 2/5 • What year was Lagoon built? • What is your favorite ride at Lagoon?

3. It’s Electric! • In 1880 the circus came to town and brought electric lights with them. • Slowly, very slowly, electricity spread across Utah. • Electric streetcars and trains changed the way of transportation. • Telephones began growing in popularity for those who could afford them.

4. Electric trains carried passengers to Saltair, an amusement park on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. • Lagoon, another amusement park, also started on the shores of the great Salt Lake in 1886. • To get more passengers to ride the trains outside of the city, Lagoon moved to Farmington. https://www.pbs.org/video/lagoon-rock-and-roller-coasters-promo-cj7srv/

5. Outlaws of Utah A person who has broken the law, especially one who remains at large or is a fugitive.

6. Outlaws of Utah • As the western frontier pushed away from established law, the West in many areas became a place of self-law and/or lawlessness. • Persons often had to decide for themselves what rules they would abide by and let their consciences guide. • The West was too large for law enforcement to be effective.

7. How did they get away with it? • The rich got rich and the poor got poorer. • The poor people didn’t try to capture the outlaws for rewards because they secretly liked seeing the rich get hit a little bit. • The robbery of a train payroll, bank, or even a large mine had little, if any, effect on the small farmer and rancher

8. Your group will be “pick” one of the following. • Matt Warner • Butch Cassidy • Elzy Lay • Harry Longabaugh (The Sundance Kid) • Ben Kilpatrick (The Tall Texan) • Will Carver • Harvey Logan (Kid Curry) • Etta Place • Laura Bullion • Ann Basset • Josie Basset

12. Struggle for Statehood… • The Utah Territory asked Congress for statehood 6 different times. • 1849 • 1856 • 1862 • 1872 • 1882 • 1887 • Each time Congress Refused. • Utahns did not give up though.

13. Roadblocks to Statehood • Utah had enough • People • Experience • Leaders • And they were loyal to the U.S. • However, stories coming out of Utah made congress hesitant. • Some of the things said were true, some were false.

14. Roadblock #1: Unity • The conflict between the LDS idea of religion being involved in government verses the separation of church and state.

15. #2: Politics • For years the LDS people believed in majority rule • Utah became more divers (railroad workers, miners, ranchers, businessmen) • They formed the liberal party • In response the LDS people formed the People’s Party. • Neither party were a part of the nation’s party system

16. #3 Courts • Each county had a judge • However, LDS people took their cases to their bishop • Non-members believed they did not get justice in “Mormon court.”

17. #4 Economics • LDS leaders wanted to manage the economics of the territory • Started lots of businesses • B.Y. directed church members to support only businesses run by other church members. • This angered other people.

18. #5 Education • Members of the Church of J.C of LDS believed schooling should be paid for • Others wanted free pubic schools supported by taxes.

19. #6 Immigration • The LDS church sent out missionaries to convert people and bring them back to Utah. • Other Utahns believed these immigrants were a threat to getting land and good jobs.

20. #7 Polygamy • Having more than one wife was not acceptable to people in the rest of the country. • Those that practiced it felt that it was a religious duty and would strengthen the territory. • Felt the Constitution’s Bill of Rights gave them the right to live this practice.

22. Federal Laws Punish Polygamistsand LDS Church • In Washing D.C. – Republicans vowed to eliminate the “twins of barbarism” – slavery and polygamy. • To accomplish this they passed new laws against polygamy and the church in general.

23. The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act (1862) • No one could be married to more than one person at a time • No church in the territories could own more than $50,000 worth of property. • (This bill was not heavily enforced)

24. The Edmunds Act (1882): • Polygamy was punishable by 5 years in prison and a $500 fine • Polygamists could not hold political office, serve on a jury, or vote in elections.

25. The Edmunds-Tucker Act (1887) • Took away the vote of all Utah women and all polygamist men • Abolished militia • Confiscated all the property of the LDS Church • This act was devastating – had to pay rent on their own church buildings. • Sheep, cattle ranches, coal mines, stores, banks, and businesses were taken by the federal government.

26. Living Underground • After the Edmunds Act a lot of men and some women went to prison for living in polygamy. • Others went underground (into hiding) • Went to eastern states, Canada, Europe, and Mexico • Members of the LDS church took their case to the supreme court. • The court ruled against polygamy.

27. The Manifesto Officially Ends Polygamy

28. Political Parties • Elections became contests between the LDS People’s Party and the Liberal Party. • The People’s Party was the dominant party for a long time • After polygamists and women lost their right to vote, the Liberal Party began winning elections.

29. It all changed though! • The LDS Church ended the People’s Part and encouraged its members to join a national party • Republican • Democrat • Most Church members wanted to join the Democrat party • Why do you think that a lot of the members wanted to join the Democrat Party?

30. Bell Ringer 2/19 • Tell me about your weekend. Be prepared to share 

31. Women’s Suffrage • In Early years women were allowed to vote. • Utah Legislature wanted to show that women weren’t oppressed. • The people in the East thought that if women voted, they would end polygamy. • That didn’t happen…

33. A CONSTITUTION FOR UTAH • After several changes in the Utah Territory, President Cleveland finally authorized Utahns to elect delegates to a constitutional convention. • Their job was to draft a constitution for the new state. • However, there were certain conditions that had to be met.

34. The state had to guarantee: • Religious Freedom • Prohibit plural marriage • Give up claim to federal and Native’s land. • Support public education • Give land to construct public buildings and irrigation works

35. The Debates • After a long, bitter debate, the delegates also included: • Women’s suffrage (again) • Setting an 8 hour work day max for underground mines • Forbidding women and children from working in mines

36. Utah’s Constitution • After 60 days the men signed the constitution! • The election of state officers and the ratification (acceptance) of the constitution was help in November 1895. • Heber M. Wells was elected as the first state governor. Utah wasn’t a state yet, though. First, their constitution had to be approved by Congress and President Cleveland.

37. STATEHOOD AT LAST

38. January 4th, 1896 • Utahns sat waiting for news from Washington. • Finally, January 4th, residents received word. • President Cleveland had signed the proclamation declaring Utah the 45th state! • Celebrations were held throughout the state in nearly every town. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXfbS0vXqYo

39. https://www.abc4.com/wirth/wirth-watching-utahs-statehood/204375516https://www.abc4.com/wirth/wirth-watching-utahs-statehood/204375516 • https://www.abc4.com/news/local-utah-state-news-/the-day-utah-became-a-state/209154984 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_vopo3KhZY