Railroad, Gentile Migration, and the Utah

WarRailroad Workers, Miners and

Soldiers

Gentiles

A person of a non-Jewish nation or faith, or a non-Mormon

They came for three different reasons: Mining The Transcontinental Railroad As soldiers in the Utah War

Mining in Utah’s MountainsUtah was rich in mineral ore

Specifically gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead and coal Farmers needed coal for their stoves, & lead to make

bullets Very dangerous working far underground

Might fall off the mine elevators Might be hit by falling rocks or run over by fast-moving mining cars Tunnels could collapse Some developed lung diseases from breathing in the dust Air in the mines was also filled with deadly gases

Paid $3-4 a day for 10-12 hours of work Immigrants from Europe, Canada, Asia, and South

America worked in the mines

Animosity in Utah

More and more people moved to Utah Mormons felt their peace & religious freedom was

threatened Gentiles wanted an American lifestyle where gov’t

and business were not controlled by one church. Wanted public schools that did not teach LDS religion Thought polygamy was immoral, wanted it stopped Did not want the LDS church so powerful in Utah

The Constitution allowed people to be different. But the question became, “How much could a person or group be different and still be considered a good American?”

Animosity = strong dislike or ill feelings

Rumors lead to the Utah War!

In the 1850’s Judges and others who didn’t like Mormons complained to President Buchanan and spread rumors: Said Mormons were murdering non-Mormons,

destroying legal records, and rebelling against the federal government.

Mormons officially announced the practice of Polygamy in 1852. Made people hate them more.

Soldiers in the Utah WarNew governor was sent to replace Brigham Young;

an army was sent to stop the Mormons from gaining more power.

Johnston’s Army of 2,500 soldiers arrived in 1858 and established Camp Floyd after marching through SLC.

The Army’s Impact on Utah

Soldiers were unwelcome in Utah

Positive Impact:Brought much needed cash to Utah people

Paid local residents to help build the camp and sold old army supplies to them for low prices

Provided jobs & bought beef and crops from the locals

Negative Impact: Area around Camp Floyd became full of

dangerous people who came with the soldiers Gamblers, prostitutes, cattle rustlers and others No one felt safe there without a weapon

The Utah WarBuchanan’s Blunder

President James Buchanan

1. What is shown in the cartoon on p. 7 of your unit packet?

2. What was the main cause of the Utah War?

3. Why is the Utah War sometimes called Buchanan’s Blunder?

4. How are both the Mormons and the Native Americans falsely represented in by the artist of this cartoon?

5. List a time in your life when you were misunderstood or treated badly because of miscommunication or false rumors.

The Railroad Revolutionizes TransportationMay 10, 1869

Why a Railroad?

The Civil War ended, and U.S. Congress looked for ways to bring the nation together Solution: build a railroad that goes across the country

MANIFEST DESTINY: Belief that the U.S. would spreadfrom the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

Two groups who start building the railroad: Union Pacific: group that worked westward from Nebraska Central Pacific: group that worked eastward from California

Raced to lay as much railroad track as possible – for more $$$

Working on the Railroad

Irish Thousands come from Ireland Work on the Union Pacific Railroad Work on flat, prairie land

Chinese Thousands come from China Work for Central Pacific Railroad-

Sierra Nevada Mountains Hard and Dangerous Hot deserts and cold winters About 2,000 died from the cold and

accidents from setting off dynamite in the mountains

Mormons & the Railroad Union Pacific needed help going through the Rocky

Mountains – hire Mormons Helped cut down trees and sold them to make railroad tracks

Sold grain, hay, potatoes, and meat to the companies

Tracks met at Promontory Summit--May 10, 1869

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

What is missing from this picture?

How Did the Railroad Change

Utah? Able to transport raw materials faster Wheat, fruits and beef could be sold outside of Utah With more imports coming into Utah, some Utah

manufacturers went out of business Easier access to mountains for mining More tourists to Utah Connected Utah towns and made

transportation easier

Differences Between Native Americans & Pioneers

Native American Beliefs & Lifestyle

Pioneers Beliefs and Lifestyle

• Not as competitive or concerned with getting ahead of others

• Believed food came from nature, saw no need for farming

• Spiritual experiences & learning could be accomplished anywhere – didn’t need a church or school building

• Believed in an afterlife- killed others to go with them in death

• Slavery was a part of life

• Lots of rules & discipline

• Relied on farming to survive rather than hunting

• Built permanent houses, temples & buildings, more of an indoor people

• Couldn’t understand why Natives killed their kin or animals

• Against slavery, interfered in the Native Americans’ slave trade

Donner-Reed Party

Read from textbook pg. 90-91 & watch clip http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/the-donner-party#the-donner-party