University of Richmond
The Overland Trails 1840-1860
What led Americans to head west in the 1800s? Using an interactive map and journals from those who traveled, pupils explore the stories of those who migrated. In addition, they see how the numbers fluctuated in response to the push-pull...
Curated OER
Antebellum Revivalism and Reform
A gold mine for American history teachers, this presentation cascades through the middle of the 19th century with the central themes of moral and social reform. Between the blossoming Mormon church, the tightening of the Temperance...
Curated OER
Why Did the Mormons Manage to Survive Salt Lake City?
Broaching interesting topics but not answering any questions, this short presentation attempts to tell the tale of the Mormon emigration to Salt Lake City. There are some good facts within the slides, and the presentation might fit in...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Ferment of Reform and Culture
Beneficial for a discussion on the Mormon trek to Utah (Deseret), the solitary image in this slideshow details their journey from Nauvoo to modern day Salt Lake City. The slide would be a good visual aid for a lecture about the...
Curated OER
Chapter 12: American History
Short and to the point, these slides cover some basic points about life in 19th centrury America. Topics such as Texas Independence, the California Gold Rush, and the Oregon Territory are briefly mentioned, and some of the facts are hard...
Curated OER
Era of Self-Sufficiency - Pre-1890
Students investigate the relationship between physical geography and Utah's settlement. In this Utah land activity, students view a PowerPoint about Utah land and work in groups to answer questions about the uniqueness of Utah's Mormon...
Curated OER
Brigham Young Leads Mormons West
In these American West worksheets, students read passages about Brigham Young leading the Mormons west. Students then answer 9 questions about the text.
Curated OER
Mormon Settlements
In this Mormon settlements worksheet, students read the poster about the settlement of Salt Lake City. Students then determine if the settlement was a success or failure based on what they learned in the poster.
Curated OER
Townsite Era
Students learn about the Townsite Era and are able to explore who they were and how they lived at that time. In this Townsite Era students create their own map of the Loma Linda are, design their own community and use a computer...
Curated OER
Mystery State #5
In this mystery state worksheet, students answer five clues to identify the state in question. They then locate that state on a map.
Curated OER
The State of Mormonism
Students investigate the history of Mormonism and how this religion has shaped Utah's identity. They explore various websites, answer discussion questions, take a virtual tour of the Mormon Trail, and read newspaper articles about...
Curated OER
American West Crosstick
In this American West worksheet, students complete the clues that relate to the American West, Mormon settlements, and the creation of railways. Students write the 7 words in the horizontal boxes and then read the word created by the...
Curated OER
The Mormons Crossword
For this crossword puzzle worksheet, students read the clues related to the American West and the Mormon settlements. Students complete the puzzle with 8 words about Mormons.
Curated OER
Curiosity Drives Change: Early Pioneers' Sense of Disc
Fifth graders examine the journals of some of the earliest pioneers in Utah. They discover the attitudes of pioneer living and summarize what they have learned.
Curated OER
Pushing the Boundaries: The Pioneer Spirit
Eleventh graders recognize how social reform occurred at the turn of the century. Through a debate, 11th graders determine advantages and drawbacks of traveling west using original sources and descriptions of the attitudes, beliefs, and...
Curated OER
Out in the Middle of Nowhere: Inevitable Lifestyle Changes
Eleventh graders examine the interaction between Utah's geography and its inhabitants. They explain how looking at cause/effect relationships is an example of historical thinking.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: John Mayfield, Triumph of Nationalism: America, 1815 1850
An essay in which historian John Mayfield claims Americans' evangelical passion is the "religious equivalent of nationalism."
PBS
Pbs: Interview With Jon Butler on the Mormon Religion and History
A very good interview with a historian on the origins of the Mormon Church, its early history in America and comments about the issue of dissent with the Church.
PBS
People in the West Brigham Young (1801 1877)
A very interesting and descriptive biography of Brigham Young, his life, and his religious leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Other
All About Mormons: Brigham Young
A long and interesting biography of Brigham Young. It details his life, religious beliefs, and contributions to the Mormon Religion. Also contains pictures of his 21 wives and information on his teachings.
Other
Joseph Smith Biography
An in-depth biography on the life of Joseph Smith beginning at his upbringing as a child up until his death at the hands of an angry mob.
Other
Utah Lighthouse Ministry: Bancroft's History of Utah: Utah as a Territory
A chapter from Bancroft's history of Utah, published in 1899, that discusses the Utah Territory.
Other
Utah Lighthouse Ministry: Bancroft's History of Utah: The Utah War
A chapter from Bancroft's history of Utah, published in 1899, on the Utah War from 1857-1858.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Antebellum Communal Experiments
Read this section of a chapter on "Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses" to identify similarities and differences among utopian groups of the antebellum era and explain how religious utopian communities differed from nonreligious ones.