1. How has the geography of the state impacted its history and economy from prehistoric times to present?
2. Who were the early (prehistoric) peoples of Utah and what were their lives like? How did horses change the Utes from a prehistoric people to more modern lifestyle in the 19th century? How did the Native People fare with the coming of the Mormons? (See Utah’s Blackhawk War Links to an external site.).
3. Who were the significant mountain men in Utah’s History and what impact did the fur trade have upon the region. (See Buckskin Entrepreneur).
4. Why is an understanding of Mormon’s history and theology important and justified for Utah History?
5. Outline both the Mormon’s and U.S. Government’s respective sides in the controversy over polygamy from 1843 to present. (See Utah: Struggle for Statehood).
6. Compare and contrast the settlement of Utah by the Mormons and other Western States’ settlement.
7. With the coming of the railroad to Utah in 1869, Brigham Young did his best to change the economic picture of the territory. What steps did he take and what was his rational in doing so?
8. Even though Utah, in its territorial era, had an 80% Mormon majority, what non-Mormon interests kept it from Statehood for thirty years? Washington politicians insisted three distinctive Mormon practices: polygamy, Theo-democracy, and cooperative mercantilism must become Americanized before Utah Territory could become a state: How were these concerns addressed?
9. One biographer of Brigham Young describes him as an “American Moses,” the Saints called him “Brother Brigham,” upon hearing of his many wives great numbers of people in the U.S. thought of him as a harem master, and the federal government thought of him as a “pain-in-the-#@%.” How should history view Brigham Young? Defend your answer.
10. What changes occurred in Utah as a result of the Depression, and how did World War II impact Utah?
