[1] A form letter to Gov. Officals [click image to view full document]

Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Mss 148: series VIII box 21, Folder 19 Document 1. Nevada's Legislature., “Sample Letter to Gov. Officials,”

 

[2] "You wonder what kind of up-side down world it is that looks askance at [the] wise use of a nation's natural resources." -Orrin Hatch  [Click image to enlarge.]

Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, VI:7:A Mss 200, Box 1, Folder 3,Utah Wilderness Association, “States do it better Cartoon, The Public lands vs. the Sagebrush Rebellion Volume 3,” Dick Carter, 1979

 

[3] A "warrior" of the rebellion [Click image to enlarge]

Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Mss 200, box 2, Folder 16, Carol Grundmann- photographer, Utah Science Magazine, Utah Agricultrual Experiment Station. Fall 1980 “Second American Revolution,” 

[4] State control will lose control. [Click image to enlarge]

Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, MSS 200 Box#1 Folder 11 Document 1. Deseret news September 8 1980. Calvin Grondahl -Cartoonist., “Camp Followers- Political cartoon.,”

 The use of propaganda has been used in any political, economic, or wartime disagreement, since almost the dawn of time. It is no different with the Sagebrush Rebellion. Most of the propaganda was used on the side of the State pushing to manage public lands themselves, while those who opposed the Sagebrush rebellion put up propaganda that favored the Federal government maintaining control of the public lands.

Those in favor of the sagebrush rebellion were encouraged to send letters to their local representatives. There were even copies of sample letters passed around at Sagebrush Rebellion meetings. Below is one example of a sample letter. In the special collections at Utah State University, there are copies of at least 5 other sample letters. These letters were all similar starting out, but their closing statements offered different perspectives on why governments and citizens should support the rebellion. Some of these reasons were, more freedom in land usage, economic possibilities, farming and grazing increase, and more development options. [1] 

Senator Orrin Hatch, states that it is a waste of natural resources if the land isn’t being used. However, most of these uses are being carefully managed by the BLM to create better outcomes for wildlife and to maintain growth and use of resources. This cartoon much like the other cartoon is for those who oppose the Sagebrush Rebellion. These groups believed that States taking control would divide up the land into private sectors, companies and ownership making it a divided state. [2]

Prior to 1940 many issues with the public lands is that they weren’t giving settlers out west the chance to grow and expand in the large-scale environment they wanted to. It’s a “war” that began as soon as the original 13 colonies purchased the western lands and slowly gave some of that land to settlers while keeping other lands for public use. The legislation presented in Congress in 1940 was vetoed and nailed shut. The legislation from the 1970-1980 Rebellion matches the earlier language used in prior legislation. Today it still continues as we look at bears ears, and the Bundy’s in Oregon and Utah. People keep recirculating around the same ideas that the states could manage these lands better. [3]

Those who opposed the Sagebrush Rebellion used propaganda to show that the states would not be able to handle the control of the public lands. This cartoon shows that if the states were able to gain control that it would all turn to private ownership and development. Many who opposed the sagebrush rebellion were very worried that the public lands would be destroyed and unavailable for public use. [4] One group who strongly opposed this was the Utah Trails Association. They were worried about restrictions and poor management if the states were to gain control due to budget restraints and a shortage of manpower. [5]

The Federal government didn't use too much of the use of propaganda because they already had control of the land and it was not needed for them to try to claim the right to the land. But the two opposing sides were heated and widely debated by citizens and local governments either for or against the state's control of the public lands. But the propaganda used was very effective in local papers, wildlife and outdoor magazines which held many strong opinions on either side of the Rebellion.