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Soldiers Of Conscience : Conscription And Conscientious Objection In The United States And Britain During World War I, Timothy Mark La Goy
Soldiers Of Conscience : Conscription And Conscientious Objection In The United States And Britain During World War I, Timothy Mark La Goy
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Conscience and the freedom to exercise conscience have long been cherished civil liberties in western democracies. However, during World War I, traditional concepts of conscience and conscientious objection to military service were challenged by the demands of conscription and militarism in the United States and Britain. This dissertation examines the definition, context, and exercise of conscience by conscientious objectors (COs) during the war. This study finds that conscience existed in a dynamic state. COs were compelled by changing circumstances to reevaluate and restate their objections as they responded to changing circumstances in army camps, guardhouses, and prisons.