On this day in 1896, the Territory of Utah becomes the 45th state in the Union. President Grover Cleveland proclaimed that it be “admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States.”
“Provided…”
Statehood, however, came with a stipulation. According to the Enabling Act of 1894, the first provision of the proposal was “That polygamous or plural marriages are forever prohibited.”
In fact, the issue of polygamy delayed Utah statehood for about four decades.
Here is the Preamble of the Utah Constitution:
“Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
Finally, the two American flags in the State Seal symbolically demontrated loyalty to the Union.
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