All 5 Warring Factions & Groups In American Primeval

American Primeval's epic Western saga chronicles the story of five warring factions and groups, and here's who they are and what they want throughout the series. American Primeval may start out as the story of one woman and her son who want to move across the frontier, but things soon get much bigger after an attack on a wagon train, leading to a massive conspiracy and cover-up that involves all kinds of different groups. American Primeval's massive cast is comprised of all kinds of different characters, and here are the major groups in Netflix's new Western drama series.

American Primeval is a fictional story that has some roots in real-life history, making for an interesting blend of fact and fiction. Most of the Netflix miniseries takes place in the Utah Territory, which features rebel Mormons, U.S. citizens, Indigenous tribes, and more. The series kicks off by showing the real-life Mountain Meadows Massacre, which was a series of attacks on a mountain train perpetrated by some Mormons and members of the Southern Paiute Native Americans, which led to the deaths of at least 120 people. This event creates all kinds of different factions, leading to American Primeval's epic story.

5 Sara Rowell's Party

Sara, Devin, Isaac, & Two Moons

Sara Rowell is the main character in American Primeval, and her party of four is one of the main factions in the series. American Primeval begins with Sara and her son Devin attempting to cross the frontier so that they can locate Sara's husband, with the duo looking for a guide across the dangerous territory. This leads to them meeting Isaac, a violent survival expert who agrees to take them to their destination. Isaac spends much of the journey protecting Sara and Devin from the men who are coming after them, leading to all kinds of violence.

However, one more member joins the party in the series: Two Moons. Two Moons is a young Indigenous girl who ran away from home, with her stowing away in Sara's wagon train. After the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Two Moons secretly trails Sara and Devin before officially joining their party, with Isaac begrudgingly agreeing to take her along.

4 Brigham Young & The Mormons

The People Of The Utah Territory & The Nauvoo Legion

The main antagonists of American Primeval are the Mormons, led by the real-life leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and governor of the Utah Territory, Brigham Young. Due to the Mormons being wary of outsiders coming into the Utah Territory, the Mormon army known as the Nauvoo Legion attacked the wagon train that Sara Rowell was part of, leading to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

The rest of American Primeval sees the Mormons attempting to cover up the attack, with one party being sent after Sara Rowell and another party attempting to locate Abish Pratt, the surviving wife of Jacob Pratt. Meanwhile, Brigham Young attempts to fortify the Utah Territory from the U.S. Military, leading to him clashing with Jim Bridger as he attempts to buy Fort Bridger.

3 The People Of Fort Bridger

Led By Jim Bridger

Another major group in American Primeval is the people of Fort Bridger, who are led by Shea Whigham's Jim Bridger. Jim Bridger is a realist who runs Fort Bridger, the rough and violent fort that is often visited by people who are passing through the Utah Territory. The people of Fort Bridger couldn't be more different from Brigham Young and the Mormons who are attempting to buy the fort, with them being known for drinking, gambling, and giving the Mormons a hard time.

2 Red Feather's Shoshone Tribe

The Wolf Clan

While several Indigenous tribes are mentioned throughout American Primeval, Red Feather's Shoshone tribe is the most significant one. Red Feather is a warrior who acts as the leader of the Wolf Clan, with them being notorious among the Mormons and other settlers in the Utah Territory. Red Feather is known for killing white men as revenge for their massacres of his people, with them taking Abish Pratt in after the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

1 The U.S. Military

The Group That Brigham Young Fears

Despite being the most powerful group in American Primeval's Western story, the U.S. Military actually has the smallest presence in the series, with their off-screen developments mostly being discussed by the other characters. In the series, Brigham Young is leading his Mormon people to rebel against the United States, creating fears that they will soon invade the Utah Territory. This is why the Mormons do things like carry out the Mountain Meadows Massacre and attempt to buy Fort Bridger, with the U.S. Military being key to the world of American Primeval.