Date of Award
9-4-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
David Vail
Committee Members
Nathan Tye, Torsten Hormberger, Will Stoutamire
Keywords
World War (1914-1918);Utah--History
Abstract
With American entry into World War I, Utah became part of the Homefront. Using the opportunity afforded by mobilization the state embraced a new system of Americanization. This ardent patriotism spread through social, economic, and especially religious means to rural communities. Beaver County was one such community in Southern Utah, poised on the brink of the future. The social dynamic of Beaver’s community, shaped primarily by religion, industry and geography encouraged the military participation of its young men and the support of government intervention on the Homefront. The influence of the dominant religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also undoubtedly shaped the perspective and the goal of wartime Beaver County. The experience of the war mixed with the post-war experience, shaped, and then faded the memory of World War I in Beaver and in Utah as a whole. Beaver County then offers a glimpse into the experience of the rural Homefront of the Great War. Exploring this small county shows how global events are reported by rural communities and how cultural and geographic factors affect the narrative.
Recommended Citation
Stagg, Leah K., "“This Is Now Our War”: The World War I Experience of Beaver County, Utah" (2021). History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity. 6.
https://openspaces.unk.edu/hist-etd/6