“OUR GOD, OUR RELIGION, AND FREEDOM, AND OUR PEACE”: JACKSON
COUNTY RESIDENTS AND THE STRUGGLE OF SAINT EMIGRANTS TO GET
ALONG (1831-1834)
Tandrea Amber Blake
B.A., Humboldt State University, 2007
THESIS
Submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirement for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
in
PUBLIC HISTORY
at
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
SPRING
2010
“OUR GOD, OUR RELIGION, AND FREEDOM, AND OUR PEACE”: JACKSON
COUNTY RESIDENTS AND THE STRUGGLE OF SAINT EMIGRANTS TO GET
ALONG (1831-1834)
A Thesis
by
Tandrea Amber Blake
Approved by:
_____________________________, Committee Chair
Professor Joseph A. Pitti, Ph.D.
_____________________________, Second Reader
Professor Christopher J. Castaneda, Ph.D.
____________________
Date
ii
Student: Tandrea Amber Blake
I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University
format manual, and that this thesis is suitable in the Library and credit is to be awarded
for the thesis.
_____________________________, Department Chair
____________________
Professor Christopher J. Castaneda, Ph.D.
Date
Department of History
iii
Abstract
of
“OUR GOD, OUR RELIGION, AND FREEDOM, AND OUR PEACE”: JACKSON COUNTY
RESIDENTS AND THE STRUGGLE OF SAINT EMIGRANTS TO GET ALONG (1831-1834)
by
Tandrea Amber Blake
Statement of Problem: This thesis aims to examine the reasons for the Saints’ settlement in and
subsequent expulsion from Jackson County. It also presents the Saints’ attempts at reinstatement.
Historians generally attribute the Saints’ religion as the cause of their expulsion. However, the
Jackson Countians issued manifestos that suggest other possible reasons for their expulsion. Are
the manifestos trustworthy? Could there be other reasons for the Saints’ expulsion, such as
business competition and a lack of consumerism?
Sources of Data: Source dates range from 1821 to 2009. Secondary sources include doctoral and
masters’ theses, encyclopedias, histories, and journal articles concerning Missouri and
Mormonism. Primary sources include autobiographies, journals, Latter-day Saint documents,
government documents, and newspapers.
Conclusions Reached: Both sides deserve blame for the expulsion. Cultural-religious, economic,
and political issues all contributed to the ejection of the Saints from Jackson County. Relying on
hearsay and popular perceptions of the Saints, the Jackson Countians justified their actions with
bigoted and malicious remarks. Although not included in the manifestos, the efforts of the Saints
to compete with local merchants likely exacerbated tensions between the new religious
community and the established population. Furthermore, the Saints’ storehouse and their practice
of the Law of Consecration did not increase the amount of money in circulation in Jackson
County. The lack of a nearby bank probably discouraged consumerism among the Saints as well.
Possibly, if the Jackson Countians had benefited from a constant money stream from the Saints,
they would have displayed greater tolerance and less of an inclination to expel the newcomers.
_____________________________, Committee Chair
Professor Joseph A. Pitti, Ph.D.
____________________
Date
iv
DEDICATION
I would like to thank my parents, Craig and Margaret, who always encourage me to
succeed, and show how proud they are of me. I am grateful for my companion, Chad,
who got me thinking about Mormons. Moreover, I am appreciative of the special teachers
that I have had throughout the course of my education. In particular, professors
Castaneda and Pitti have provided helpful comments throughout this work.
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Dedication………………………………………………………………………... v
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORIOGRAPHY……………………….…….. 1
2. LAMANITE MISSIONAIRIES AND THE PEOPLE AND LAND OF
JACKSON COUNTY…………………………………………………...…… 7
3. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SAINTS IN JACKSON COUNTY AND THE
FIRST TROUBLES WITH THE OLD SETTLERS……………………..… 18
4. THE SECRET CONSTITUTION AND THE JULY 20 MANIFESTO..….. 41
5. THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE SAINTS AND THE
OLD SETTLERS…………………………………………………..…..…… 59
6. THE EXPULSION OF THE SAINTS AND THEIR ATTEMPTS TO
RETURN……………………………………………………………...…….. 71
7. SAINTS IN CLAY COUNTY…………………………………………….... 97
8. CONCLUSION………………………………..…………………….…….. 102
Appendix A……………………………………………………………………. 106
Appendix B……………………………………………………………………. 107
Appendix C……………………………………………………………………. 108
Appendix D……………………………………………………………………. 109
Appendix E……………………………………………………………………. 111
Appendix F………………………………………………………….…………. 114
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………... 115
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