Why was Mormon extermination act issued?

Answer 1

The Extermination Order was issued by Governor Lillbourn W. Boggs of Missouri in October 1838. It came after fighting between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) and non-Mormons had escalated to the point that it was a huge problem.

Although small fights had occurred for several years, they were nothing out of the ordinary in frontier America. The first large battle is called the Gallatin Election Day Battle, which occured on August 6, 1838. In the city of Gallatin, Missouri, a political candidate (William Peniston) had said some disparaging things about Mormons in his speech, and told them not to vote in the election. Samuel Brown, a Mormon present in the audience, announced that the things Mr. Peniston had said about the Mormons were false, and that he would not be intimidated out of his right to vote. A brawl broke out in the audience, with several leaving the scene to obtain guns and ammunition. The next several months were filled with attacks on both sides, mostly involving the burning of homes and public buildings. Mormon men were taken from their homes and imprisoned or shot, and property was stolen. Two major battles taking place in October 1838, the Battle of Crooked River and the Haun's Mill Massacre. When the Mormon's fought back in attempt to defend themselves, an exaggerated record was sent to the Governor, stating that they had killed so many civillians in an uprising. The Governor concluded that the Mormons were at war with the state, and ordered the Extermination Order.

Because of the Extermination Order, Mormon leaders were tried under a military tribunal and convicted of high treason. Joseph Smith was ordered to be shot in the town square by General Alexander Doniphan. General Doniphan, however, felt that it was cold blooded murder because the Mormon leaders were not given a fair trial, and in turn allowed them to escape before their execution.

As the Mormons were attempting to gather their things and flee the state, mobs ransacked several of their villages, taking their weapons and valuables and burning their buildings. They finally were able to flee and join the rest of the Church members in Nauvoo, Illinois.

The Extermination Order was rescinded nearly 140 years later in 1976, when an official apology was given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You can see a photo of the actual handwritten Extermination Order at the "Related Links" below.

Answer 2

The Mormon Extermination, Missouri Executive Order 44, was issued in October 1838 by Missouri Governor Lillbourn W. Boggs. This Executive Order said that all Mormons should be treated as enemies and driven from the state or exterminated if necessary. This meant it was legal to kill a Mormon if they wouldn't leave the state. The Extermination Order was in place until June 1976.