The Edmunds Act of 1882 and the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887, passed by the U.S. Congress, significantly curtailed the power of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah, including its control over elections. Here's why:
* Anti-Polygamy: The primary goal of these laws was to suppress polygamy, which was practiced by some members of the LDS Church. Congress believed that the Church's political and economic power in Utah was enabling and protecting the practice of polygamy.
* Disenfranchisement: The Edmunds Act disenfranchised polygamists and those who believed in the practice. This significantly reduced the LDS Church's voting base and its ability to control elections.
* Disincorporation of the Church: The Edmunds-Tucker Act went even further, disincorporating the LDS Church as a legal entity. This meant the Church could no longer hold property and its assets were seized by the federal government. A key aim was to diminish the church's economic and political influence.
* Federal Control of Elections: The Edmunds-Tucker Act established a federally appointed commission to oversee elections in Utah. This effectively removed the LDS Church's control over the electoral process and ensured that elections were conducted fairly, according to federal standards.
* Political Pressure: The federal government sought to exert political pressure on the LDS Church to renounce polygamy. By stripping the Church of its political and economic power, Congress hoped to force the Church to comply with federal law and abandon the practice.
In essence, Congress took away control of elections from the Mormon Church because it viewed the Church's political power as a means of protecting and perpetuating polygamy, which was illegal under federal law. The actions were intended to weaken the Church's influence and force it to comply with federal law.