- The first settlers of Utah were Native American tribes. Tribes came to Utah to hunt and gather in the Great Basin. These tribes began moving into the area of Utah and more specifically the Great Basin around 12,000 years ago at a time when the Great Basin had many lakes and lush green forests. These tribes depended on hunting and gathering to survive they were known as the Desert Archaic Culture. This tribe lasted in the area until 400 A.D. The Anasazi, Fremont and Shoshone, Paiute, Ute, Goshute and, finally, the Navajos peoples followed and prospered well into the mid-1800s. Besides the Mormons, the natives were the only people willing to live in Utah. The Mormons tried to convert many tribes, believing them to be part of the lost tribes of Israel. The tribes were weakened by exposure to white diseases and fighting. Many still exist today but in small numbers.
- The persecution of the Mormon religion during the 19th century came to a head in Missouri and is directly responsible for the permanent settling of the state of Utah. In 1837, Mormon missionaries followed their founder, Joseph Smith, to Missouri to establish settlements. In 1838, fearing that Mormons were gaining in strength economically and politically, the governor declared the Mormons enemies of the state and ordered them to leave. He held key leaders of the religion, including Joseph Smith, as hostages until the Mormons left the state. The persecution drove thousands of Mormons out of their Midwest towns and forced the Mormons to look for a new place to live. In 1839, the Mormons under the leadership of Brigham Young left in search of a new home free of persecution.
- The first group of Mormon settlers to permanently settle in Utah came from Missouri. These settlers were the first large settlement of non-Native Americans to permanently settle in Utah. Brigham Young founded Salt Lake City on July 24, 1847. He brought with him 143 pioneers to Utah looking for religious freedom to practice their religion without persecution. Brigham Young saw the valley first and declared, "This is the right place." The Mormons shaped the territory into a thriving place ready for statehood.
- The Mormons flooded Utah with settlers. Brigham Young became the first territorial governor of the territory. Young pushed for statehood in 1850 but America was just not ready to embrace the Mormons. President Millard Fillmore and Congress had deep suspicions of the Mormon faith. In particular, in the 1840s the Mormon faith pursued a policy of allowing polygamy. To Congress, this was not what Christians did. Statehood was denied. Relations between Utah and the federal government declined further when Young's term as governor expired in 1854. Young would not step down and James Buchanan, the new president, sent 2,500 federal troops to quell Utah in 1857. Young was forced to deal with the federal government and tensions finally subsided after compromise on both sides. Utah banned polygamy and federal troops agreed not to occupy Salt Lake. In 1896 Utah became the 45 state of the union.
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