Utah Territory

Utah_Territory_evolution_animation_-_August_2011

Utah Territory
Organized incorporated territory
Country	United States
Organized	September 9, 1850
Capital	Salt Lake City

The Utah Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah. The territory was created by the Compromise of 1850 and included the present-day state of Utah, most of Nevada, and portions of Colorado and Wyoming.

History

The Utah Territory was established by the United States Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to ease tensions between free and slave states following the Mexican-American War. The territory was initially much larger than the present state of Utah, encompassing areas that would later become parts of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming.

The first governor of the Utah Territory was Brigham Young, the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who had led the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The Mormons sought to establish a theocratic state called Deseret, but the U.S. government instead created the Utah Territory.

Geography

The Utah Territory originally included all of present-day Utah, most of Nevada, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The territory's boundaries were adjusted several times during its existence. In 1861, the creation of the Colorado Territory and the Nevada Territory reduced its size significantly. The final boundaries of the Utah Territory were established in 1868.

Government and Politics

The Utah Territory was governed by a series of appointed governors, many of whom were members of the LDS Church. The relationship between the federal government and the Mormon settlers was often contentious, particularly over issues such as polygamy, which was practiced by many Mormons at the time.

In 1857, tensions between the federal government and the Mormon settlers led to the Utah War, a confrontation that resulted in the deployment of federal troops to the territory. The conflict was eventually resolved without significant bloodshed, but it highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two sides.

Economy

The economy of the Utah Territory was primarily based on agriculture, mining, and trade. The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 significantly boosted the territory's economy by improving transportation and communication with the rest of the country.

Statehood

Efforts to achieve statehood for Utah were complicated by the issue of polygamy. The federal government passed several laws aimed at curbing the practice, including the Edmunds Act and the Edmunds-Tucker Act. In 1890, the LDS Church officially renounced polygamy, paving the way for Utah's admission to the Union as the 45th state on January 4, 1896.

Related Pages

• State of Utah
• Deseret
• Brigham Young
• Compromise of 1850
• Utah War
• First Transcontinental Railroad
• Edmunds Act
• Edmunds-Tucker Act