Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky outlines the societal impacts of World War I on the American home front. The most immediate consequence in the US of the war was the absence of men of fighting age from their homes and communities. In April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, and a month later, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which inducted 2.8 million men into the military through conscription, also known as the draft. The draft continued until 1973, although registering with the Selective Service remains a requirement.

Larson’s description of the purchasing of Liberty Bonds highlights the efforts of the American citizens to support the Allied troops. Liberty Bonds were a type of war bond that helped finance military operations for the Allied powers during World War I. Citizens’ purchase of these war bonds helped fund the troops overseas. Despite the possibility of this funding bringing their troops home sooner, Larson describes the financial pressure that this type of patriotic duty put on American citizens. The war rations on food and luxury items already lowered morale, and the expenses of the Liberty Bonds and the pressure to purchase them weighed on the minds of the American people, especially those who lived on a lower income.

Another aspect that Larson focuses on in the novel is anti-German sentiment. Larson’s descriptions of the mistreatment of Karl Mueller, despite his neighborly attitude, show how fear and prejudice can turn people against each other. With the growth of anti-German sentiment, American society saw an increase in American patriotism but also American nationalism. While patriotism is pride in one’s country, nationalism involves prioritizing one’s national identity and interests above all others, which often leads to violence and discrimination. As Larson exemplifies through her description of the Dawson County Council of Defense, American nationalism at the time revolved around citizens proving their loyalty; anyone who did not pass the test of loyalty or who sympathized with the mistreatment of German immigrants was under suspicion of being a traitor to the nation. As the war progressed, President Woodrow Wilson attempted to keep track of German immigrants in America by forcing them to register as “enemy aliens.” The unfairness and xenophobia that German immigrants experienced at the time shows how war propaganda influenced American citizens to become suspicious of their neighbors just because of the country in which they were born.