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Mormons in

Portrait of from the Library of Congress

Grade Level: Secondary Estimated Time: 1 -2 Hours

Show-Me Standards: Communication Arts: 3. Reading and evaluating nonfiction works and material (such as biographies, newspapers, technical manuals) 6. Participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas Social Studies: 2. Continuity and change in the , the and the world 3. Principles and processes of governance systems 6. Relationships of the individual and groups to institutions and cultural traditions

Lesson Objectives: 1.To educate students on the history of St. Louis and Missouri. 2.To improve student's comprehensive reading abilities. 3.To improve student's understanding of Westward Expansion and pioneer settlers.

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Important Points: In the 1830s, the newly established Church of Latter-day Saints started coming to Missouri to the place where a vision from prophet Joseph Smith saw that “” would be gathered in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. This was near Independence, Missouri in Jackson County. The clashed with other settlers over how the community ran itself, as many settlers did not believe in placing power in the hands of one person, like a monarchy. Mormons also felt that they were meant to inherit the land. In 1836, a “separate but equal” proposal made it so that Mormons could only settle in a particular area, Caldwell County. But soon the population outgrew the county lines. In 1838, violence broke out between the settler groups, inciting the then governor, Lilburn Boggs, to issue Missouri Executive Order 44. This was otherwise known as a Mormon Extermination Order. The settlers either had to leave Missouri or they would be killed. Many of the people moved to Nauvoo, Illinois or to Utah to establish Salt Lake City. The extending from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah is 1,300 miles long. St. Louis was a haven for many coming up the Mississippi River headed to Nauvoo. Those immigrating were mostly British Mormons.

Vocabulary Words: Mormon: The religious practice of the Latter-day Saints. Founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1820s New York. The religion is derived from the Book of Mormon. Missouri Executive Order 44: Otherwise known as the Mormon Extermination Order, it forced Mormons to leave Missouri or be killed. The Order was finally repealed in 1976. Nauvoo: A city in Illinois that was the start of the Mormon Trail, where many immigrants migrated to. Mormon Trail: A 1,300 mile long trail from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake, Utah area. This trail bypassed Missouri due to the Missouri Mormon War and Order 44. Missouri Mormon War: A series of conflicts between Mormons and non-Mormons in Missouri lasting from August to November 1838.

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Mormons in Missouri

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in the 1820s, spreading quickly across the world. The church follows the doctrine of The Book of Mormon written by Smith. During the 1800s, Mormons faced intense persecution in places they tried to settle, one of these being Missouri.

In the 1830s, Smith received a prophetic vision that the church was meant to settle in Missouri, near Independence in Jackson County. The land was foretold to be inherited by the Mormons. Many of the settlers already in the area did not like the group moving in and felt that the idea of one person controlling everything was a mockery of the United States. Tensions greatly increased between the Mormons and non-Mormons so much that in 1836 a “separate but equal” act was put into place, forcing the Mormon settlers to relocate to Caldwell County, and only this county.

Quickly, the Mormon settlers outgrew the boundaries of Caldwell County, upsetting the non- Mormon inhabitants of the area. In 1839, attacks began to occur on members of the church, cattle were slaughtered, and homes were burned, forcing many to flee. In defense and/or retaliation, Mormon paramilitary also burned the homes of those who attacked them. The violence was so brutal that the Missouri Governor, Lilburn Boggs, issued Missouri Executive Order 44 declaring that the Mormons had to leave Missouri or they would be killed. The order effectively ended the Missouri Mormon War.

Many, including Joseph Smith Jr. settled in the renamed town of Nauvoo, Illinois. A new community was established that quickly prospered in economic growth and political control. In 1846, the Mormon Trail was established between Nauvoo and Salt Lake City, Utah, a city founded by Brigham Young the new leader of the church after the death of Joseph Smith Jr. in 1844.

Although Missouri and most of the Eastern United States was anti-Mormon, St. Louis proved to be a haven to those immigrating from Europe and seeking travel to Utah.

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Mormons in Missouri

The city ignored the order set by the governor and provided shelter, food, and work to those traveling and impacted by the cholera epidemic.

One family that found refuge in St. Louis was the Westwood family. After a long and tough journey from England, the family arrived in St. Louis coming up the Mississippi River from New Orleans in 1849. Tragedy stuck as most of the family contracted cholera, leaving the surviving children orphaned in a new country. The children were separated and found work and residence within the city.

Mercy was hired as a cook by lawyer Roswell Field. When new living arrangements needed to be found for Mercy's sister, Temperance Westwood, Mrs. Field suggested that the sister be hired to care for the young baby, Eugene Field. The sisters would both spend a short time with the family, but Temperance and Eugene reconnected later in life and remained pen pals until Field’s death in 1895.

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Mormons in Missouri Temperance Westwood Moon

Born: August 19, 1839 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England Died: September 21, 1922 in Farmington, Utah, United States Immigrated: Spring of 1849 to the United States. Work: Nanny for the Field family 1850-1853/54

Temperance Westwood was born in 1839 and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1849. While traveling to Nauvoo, Illinois, Temperance lost her mother, father, and baby sister to cholera near St. Louis. The family was forced to stay in the city and the children were split between homes and finding employment.

When she was 10, Temperance found work at the home Roswell Field, caring for the infant Eugene Field. She stayed with the family for about 4 years before moving west to Utah with her brother. When she was 16, she married Henry Moon and together they had 13 children.

An avid lover of books and reading, Temperance reconnected with the young boy she had looked after in St. Louis later in life. Eugene Field, by then a successful author and journalist, remembered her well and they remained as pen pals until Field’s death in 1895.

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Mormons in Missouri

Mercy Westwood Tuckett Born: March 26, 1833 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England Died: January 18, 1863 in Fulsom, , United States Immigrated: Spring of 1849 to the United States Work: Cook for the Field family and a actress

Mercy Westwood was born in 1833 and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1849. While traveling to Nauvoo, Illinois, Mercy lost her mother, father, and baby sister to cholera near St. Louis. The family was forced to stay in the city and the children were split between homes and finding employment.

Mercy took on employment within the Field household in 1849 working as a cook for the family. Although we do not know for sure, some sources say that her sister, Hannah, worked as a housekeeper. Mercy is the person who introduced Temperance to the Field family.

In 1852, Mercy married Henry Tuckett and left the employment of the Field family. While in St. Louis, she joined the theater company of her brother Phillip and they raised money for those affected by cholera. Mercy remained an actress after her move to Utah and performed at the Bowery, Social Hall, and later, at Camp Floyd for the troops.

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Mormons in Missouri: Questions

Why did Mormons come to Missouri?

Why did Mormons settle in St. Louis? Why did they stay after Executive Order 44?

Who were Mercy and Temperance Westwood? Why did they come to St. Louis and what did they do here?

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Mormons in Missouri: Critical Thinking

Why do you think the Mormon and non-Mormon settlers did not get along? What other groups in Missouri have not gotten along with each other? Explain.

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Mormons in Missouri: Critical Thinking Do you think that a “separate but equal” county was a good solution to solve the tensions between settlers? What is another time in American history that a policy like this has been applied? Explain your answers.

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Mormons in Missouri: Activity Using the map provided, track the movement of the Mormons from 1820-1860. Mark the map with the following (use outside sources if needed): 1) The settlements of St. Louis and Independene, Missouri, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Salt Lake City, Utah. 2) Where battles of the Missouri Mormon War occurred. 3) The Mormon Trail.

For further learning visit the Field House Museum's YouTube page to watch the Speaker Series: "Mormonising" Political and Religious Dissent in Nineteenth-Century Missouri" featuring the Missouri Humanities Council Speaker, Stephen Davis.

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