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Georgia Southern University

The Bombs Bursting In Air: A History Of The Effects of Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing On Washington County, Utah, 1951-1963

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This thesis explores the effects of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site from 1951-1962 on Washington County, Utah, specifically focusing on the effects of these detonations on the local population, the local flora and fauna, and the ensuing impact of political and economic forces. While some Americans readily concede that these tests were necessary for the survival of the United States in the face of Soviet nuclear aggression, other Americans (notably, those who were most closely affected) do not share such a patriotic view of the government’s conduct in performing such extensive and damaging experiments. Therefore, the historical philosophy behind the compulsion to treat the deserts of the American Southwest (and the populations that inhabit them and the surrounding areas) as expendable resources, valuable only insofar as they serve economic, militaristic, or propagandistic purposes for the Federal government is examined.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts in History (M.A.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis (open access)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Department of History
Year dc:date.available
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bridges, Paul W, II
Contributors dc:contributor
  • William Thomas Allison
  • Cathy Skidmore-Hess

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1080
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-2089

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Georgia Southern University
Base URL
digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bridges, Paul W, II. The Bombs Bursting In Air: A History Of The Effects of Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing On Washington County, Utah, 1951-1963. Thesis (open access) thesis, 2014. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1080