The Missouri Executive Order that mandated the extermination of a religious community
In short: In 1838, a series of skirmishes in northern Missouri escalated from local vigilante violence into a state-sanctioned campaign of expulsion. What began as a dispute over voting rights and land expansion ended with a governor's order to either drive a population from their homes or destroy them.
The conflict was rooted in the rapid expansion of the Latter Day Saint movement in Missouri. Following an 1833 expulsion from Jackson County by vigilantes, the community sought refuge in Caldwell County, established in 1836 as a political compromise. However, tensions resurfaced when Mormon leaders relocated from Kirtland, Ohio, in early 1838, leading to fears of Mormon consolidation and the establishment of new settlements in Daviess and Carroll counties. This expansion was driven by religious revelations to gather in specific locations, including Independence, which was designated as the centerplace for the planned City of Zion in 1831. The community's growing influence was further complicated by their economic cohesion and perceived ties to local Native American tribes.
Violence intensified during the summer of 1838. On August 6, an attempt to prevent Mormons from voting in Gallatin, Daviess County, sparked a brawl and the formation of anti-Mormon vigilance committees. The conflict saw significant escalations, including the Battle of Crooked River on October 24 and the Hawn's Mill Massacre on October 30, where 17 unarmed Latter Day Saints were killed by vigilantes. The unrest was fueled by internal church schisms and the emergence of the Danites, a group dedicated to enforcing church leadership. Tensions also rose when Mormon settlers established colonies in De Witt, a town strategically positioned near the confluence of the Missouri and Grand Rivers.
The crisis reached its peak when Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs issued Executive Order 44 on October 27. Following the engagements at Crooked River, Boggs declared the Mormons to be in open insurrection and commanded state troops that the community 'must be exterminated or driven from the state.'
Around 10,000 Latter Day Saints were forced from their homes, with many moving to Illinois, as the conflict caused 22 fatalities. While the state's response caused significant political damage to Boggs, the Mormon forces surrendered on November 1, 1838, ending the active hostilities. The violence was preceded by intense political rhetoric, including Sidney Rigdon's Salt Sermon and a declaration of independence from all mobs. Ultimately, the conflict's heavy toll left the displaced population seeking refuge primarily in the state of Illinois.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 1838 Mormon War
- Also: Wikidata — 1838 Mormon War · CC0
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