Topic: Settlement of Utah

Objectives:
SWBAT:
? Identify Bringham Young in writing
? Locate boundaries of Mormon settlement by labeling their Westward Expansion maps
? Discuss reasons why Mormons went to Utah

Materials Needed:
? Westward Expansion maps
? Colored pencils

Overview:
? 1840’s – Americans knew little about Utah area – thought it was predominately desert and that it was hard to reach through the Rocky Mts.
? Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
? Church formed by Joseph Smith in Western NY (Rochester) – they were subject to bitter religious persecution
? Settled in New York, Ohio, and Missouri – they were driven from all of these areas
? Finally settled in Illinois – brutal mob persecution, which led to the murder of Joseph Smith
? Bringham Young became new leader and led his followers to the Far West, settling in Utah, which was, at the time, unwanted land
? Young felt this would be a safe haven for them to settle and grow – settled at the Great Salt Lake
? By late 1840’s the Mormons had turned the desert into rich farmland
? The Mormon state of Deseret was formed and the capital was Salt Lake City – the capital today

Procedure:
? Ask class if they have ever felt discriminated against or picked on, and if they’re willing, have them share their experiences and how they handled it
? Discuss the migration of the Mormons and their motivations for their migrations
? Have the students color and label their Westward Expansion maps

Evaluation:
? Participation in class discussion
? Attentiveness
? Active note taking
? Asking general questions to the class