Freedom of religon? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) was an "american made" religion founded in New York by Joseph Smith in 1830. Member lived together in communities called “utopias” where they worked hard and their membership grew. But many people did not like their different beliefs, including polygamy (having more than one wife), and forced them to leave.
Even though the first amendment protects us from religious persecution, the Mormons were persecuted. 70,000 Mormons were forced to exodus between 1847 and 1869. They moved from New York to Ohio, then to Missouri, then to Illinois, where they build a city on the Mississippi River called “Nauvoo”. It was beautiful and larger (between 15,000- 20,000 inhabitants) than Chicago. But even there they were attacked and the town was mostly destroyed.
In 1844, the Illinois government passed a resolution to drive Smith out of Illinois and destroy Nauvoo. Smith and his brother were jailed in Illinois and later shot by a mob that stormed the jail. Once Smith was killed the church split with some members following Smith’s son and the majority following Brigham Young, an inspiring man with 24 wives and 58 children!!. The Mormons were then forced to move on to Utah. The trip was extremely difficult. Many Mormons travelled by foot pulling their possessions in hand carts. Many died. Within three years the Mormons had built up Salt Lake City into a thriving community. By 1877, there were 140,000 Mormons living in the Utah territory.