Wakara's War

This war was influenced by factors such as religious differences, the slave trade, and the division of the Salt Lake Valley.

The physical characteristics of the land largely separated Wakara's band from other Ute and Shoshone Indians in that area.

The Mormon settlers did not account for the indigenous tribes of the Goshute, Ute, and Shoshone whose territory they were wanting to settle outside the Salt Lake Valley, which led to protracted, and at times violent, conflicts.

The Salt Lake Valley was claimed by none of the four surrounding tribes, making it an ideal settling place for the early members of the LDS Church.

In the years following the arrival of the Mormons in the Salt Lake Valley, tensions began to build between the settlers and the Paiutes.

The Mormons, led by Brigham Young, believed that the indigenous peoples they encountered were descendants of an ancient splinter group of Hebrews called the Lamanites,[6] who were the primary antagonists in a book of scripture called the Book of Mormon, that they believed was translated by the religion's founder, Joseph Smith.

They traded captives, mostly women and children from the weaker nomadic Paiute and Goshute tribes, with the Mexicans for goods.

Although initially opposed to the idea, Brigham Young advised the Mormons to purchase the slaves and raise them as their own children.

Young viewed this as a way to purchase the slaves' freedom, believing it to be the moral duty of the settlers to raise the children as Mormons.

The Paiute Indians frequently went on raids, stealing horses from other tribes and settlers and growing their herds.

Chief Wakara led some of the most profitable raids in that region, notably increasing the head count in his band's herd.

A dispute ensued when a Paiute man began beating his wife over a transaction and tried taking it into Ivie's home.

[9][10] Towards the end of July 1853, Major General Daniel H. Wells, of the Utah Territorial Militia, commanded a number of troops to go and attempt to stop the Utes, who they believed were marching to attack a town of members of the LDS Church.

Part of Young's plan to defend and keep safe the church members was to stop all trade and exchange with the Ute Indians, as to avoid any confrontation with them.

[10][11] Members of the LDS Church and the Utes would find themselves in conflict again during the Tintic War, which took place just a year after the death of Chief Wakara.