Portal:Utah/Selected article/13
The Liberal Party of Utah, along with the People's Party, was a local political party that flourished in Utah Territory in the latter 19th century before Democrats and Republicans established themselves in Utah in the early 1890s.
The Liberal Party was formed in 1870 to oppose The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church; popularly known as the "Mormons"), which dominated local politics. Thus, the Liberal Party represented the non-Mormon side in religiously-charged Utah government. Though vastly outnumbered, the Liberal Party offered an opposing voice and successfully won several local elections. Anti-Mormonism was a central theme of the party until it disbanded in 1893 and was absorbed by the national parties. (Full article...)