civil war

Joseph Smith

Founder of Mormonism (1830) who claimed visions from God, Jesus, and the angel Moroni.

Moroni

Angel who told Smith about the golden plates and his mission to restore the true Church.

Golden Plates

Ancient records translated by Smith into the Book of Mormon.

Book of Mormon

Religious text describing Israelites migrating to America and Jesus visiting them.

Mormon Beliefs About Native Americans

Belief that Native Americans descended from the Lamanites whose skin was darkened after rejecting God.

Translation Method

Smith used special stones and dictated the text while hidden behind a sheet.

Reason for Mormon Persecution

Their unusual beliefs, economic success, and separation made others see them as a threat.

Mormon Migration Path

New York → Ohio → Missouri → Illinois → Utah.

Haun’s Mill Massacre (1838)

Mob attack in Missouri that killed 17 Mormons.

Nauvoo, Illinois

Successful Mormon settlement before conflict forced them to leave.

Brigham Young

Led Mormons to Utah and became territorial governor.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

Ended Mexican-American War and gave the U.S. land including Utah.

Utah Territory

Created by Congress instead of granting Mormons their own state.

Polygamy (Plural Marriage)

Practice where men had multiple wives; controversial and limited.

Anti-Bigamy Act (1862)

Law banning polygamy in the United States.

Roman Catholic Immigrants

Faced discrimination and violence from Protestants.

Anti-Catholic Riots

Mobs burned churches and attacked Catholic communities.

Oregon Treaty (1846)

Agreement with Britain dividing Oregon at the 49th parallel.

Oregon Statehood (1859)

Admitted with a “whites only” clause.

Harriet Tubman

Abolitionist who helped enslaved people escape and supported John Brown.

Tubman’s Role with Brown

Helped plan the raid but did not participate due to illness.

John Brown

Radical abolitionist who used violence to try to end slavery.

Harpers Ferry Raid (1859)

Brown attacked a federal arsenal to start a slave rebellion.

Brown’s Plan

Arm enslaved people with rifles, pistols, and pikes.

Why the Plan Failed

Enslaved people did not join and Brown was captured.

U.S. Marines

Captured Brown and ended the raid.

Outcome of the Raid

10 killed, 7 captured, some escaped.

John Brown’s Trial

Convicted of treason, murder, and conspiracy.

John Brown as a Martyr

His speech made him a symbol for abolitionists.

Abraham Lincoln

Anti-slavery president elected in 1860.

Election of 1860

Lincoln won with 40% due to split opposition.

Lincoln Not on Southern Ballots

His name did not appear in most Southern states.

Why the South Feared Lincoln

They believed he would take away slavery.

Secession

Southern states leaving the Union.

James Buchanan

President before Lincoln who failed to act.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate general who chose the South over the Union.

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

Called for unity and reconciliation.

John Wilkes Booth

Assassinated Lincoln.

Assassination of Lincoln (1865)

Part of a larger failed conspiracy.

Failed Assassination Attempts

Other leaders were targeted but survived.