The popular Netflix series “American Primeval” has sparked considerable interest, but it significantly misrepresents key elements of the Utah War.
This critique comes from Barbara Jones Brown, a historian and author specializing in 19th-century Utah history.
While the show weaves a narrative that is heavily fictionalized and only loosely based on historical events, it has ignited a newfound curiosity about a tumultuous and often overlooked episode in American history.
Brown appreciates the public’s interest, as demonstrated by the flood of questions and requests for reading lists she has received.
Amazon sales data underscores this renewed enthusiasm; books covering pivotal events like the Mountain Meadows and Bear River Massacres, along with biographies of notable figures such as Brigham Young, Jim Bridger, and “Wild Bill” Hickman, have surged onto bestseller lists.
Concerns Over Religious Intolerance
However, this buzz around historical engagement comes with a troubling side effect: an uptick in religious intolerance, particularly towards members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Much of this backlash appears to be stoked by the dramatized portrayal of Mormons as hooded figures committing vicious acts against émigrés, U.S. Army personnel, and Indigenous communities.
This sensationalized depiction serves more to entertain than to educate, complicating the dialogue around this period.
Key Aspects of the Utah War
To counter some pervasive myths, Brown offers clarifications on several aspects of the Utah War:
What Was the Utah War?
This conflict unfolded between 1857 and 1858, when Latter-day Saint settlers resisted federal intervention initiated by President Buchanan, who sent troops into the Salt Lake Valley.
Buchanan’s concerns centered on the theocratic nature of Utah’s governance, which prompted him to contemplate replacing Brigham Young as governor.
Anticipating renewed persecution akin to what they faced in Missouri, Young rallied his followers to stand against federal forces.
The Mormons had already suffered violent persecution in Missouri, prompting their migration to Utah.
By 1857, Young and his community aimed to thwart any further oppression.
Geographical Inaccuracies in the Series
The depiction of geography in the show is misleading.
Although it mentions locations like Fort Bridger, the Salt Lake Valley, and the Wasatch Mountains, it fails to accurately place Young, who was over 100 miles away in Salt Lake City during the depicted events.
Thus, scenes showing him at Fort Bridger clash with historical facts.
Indeed, the Mormons purchased Fort Bridger in 1855 and set it ablaze in October 1857, but the motivations differ from the narrative the show presents.
They initially acquired the fort to support emigrants journeying to Utah and later destroyed it as an act of defiance against the encroaching federal troops during the Utah War.
Surprisingly, the Utah War did not witness any formal battles between Mormon forces and U.S. troops.
Instead, Mormon strategies focused on disrupting military supplies and creating logistical obstacles that delayed troop advancements until winter snow set in.
Interactions with Indigenous Communities
A significant misrepresentation in the series is the portrayal of Mormon militias as aggressors against the Shoshone people.
In truth, it was U.S. Army forces that perpetrated a massacre against a Shoshone community in 1863—known as the Bear River Massacre—occurring in southern Idaho, far removed from the locations depicted in the show.
The series references the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, which took place in September 1857.
However, this tragic event occurred roughly 400 miles from Fort Bridger.
Brown emphasizes that while the Latter-day Saints often cast themselves as victims in federal conflicts, they were acting as settlers on territories that had been home to various Indigenous tribes for generations.
The situation escalated following a raid on an emigrant party, leading local Mormon militias to eliminate witnesses to shield themselves from potential repercussions.
The series inaccurately shows Mormons wearing KKK-like hoods during the massacre.
In reality, the attackers did not require disguises, as they killed nearly all emigrants except for a small number of children.
The incident’s complexity includes manipulation by Mormon leaders to enlist Indigenous participants in executing their objectives.
The historical narrative surrounding the Utah War is rich and well-documented, with many scholarly resources available for those keen to delve deeper into this crucial aspect of Utah history.
Sadly, rather than fostering a meaningful understanding, “American Primeval” has perpetuated damaging stereotypes and revived tensions reminiscent of the 19th century.
For those eager to learn more about this period, Barbara Jones Brown’s notable work, *Vengeance Is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath*, co-authored with Richard E. Turley Jr., serves as an essential resource.
Brown is a respected historian with a master’s degree in American history from the University of Utah.
Source: Religionnews