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In 1830, Joseph Smith began preaching Mormon ideas.
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This religion began to anger others so Joseph Smith lead the Mormons had to move a couple times. In 1839 they bought the town of Commerce, Illinois, and renamed it Nauvoo.
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In 1844, a mob of local residents killed Joseph Smith. After Smith's death, Brigham Young took over as head of the Mormons.
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The Mormon migration began in 1846. About 12,000 Mormons made the trek in the largest single migration in American history. The Mormons route became known as the Mormon Trail.
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In 1847, the Mormons finally reached the Great Salt Lake. There, Young declared that the Mormons would build a new settlement.
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In 1848 the United States acquired the Salt Lake area from Mexico after the Mexican War. In 1850 Congress established the Utah territory. Brigham Young was named governor.
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In 1857 and 1858, war almost broke out between the Mormons and the United States Army.
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By 1860 there were many Mormon communities, but Utah was not easily incorporated into the United States. Problems included the Mormon practice of polygamy and frequent conflicts with federal officials.
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Utah did not become a state until 1896. This was after the Mormons officially gave up the practice of polygamy.
