The Hancock County War, sometimes known as Hancock’s War, took place in the middle of the 19th century in Hancock County, Illinois. Tensions arose between Mormon settlers, led by Joseph Smith, and non-Mormons in the area during the years 1844 and 1845, leading to armed combat.

Religion, economic inequality, and social friction all play a role in the complicated story of Hancock’s War. The existing non-Mormon populace at Nauvoo, Illinois felt threatened by the rapidly expanding Mormon group.

If you’re interested in learning more about this understudied period in American history, picking up a book about Hancock’s War is a great place to start. It examines the history of the fighting, the political and economic strains that stoked the conflict, and the bloody confrontations that broke out between the two sides.