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In this article the author propose to examine an hypothesis derived from the field of so-called primitive peoples. It seems to the authors that if they can demonstrate the validity of the continuum in a modem setting the authors shall have made some contribution to any elaboration of the entire theory. The research from which the authors have derived their central hypothesis has been done among so-called primitive societies. It should be noted that the change from a folk to an urban type is essentially analogous to the change from a self-sufficient to a dependent rural community. The essential analogy lodges in the fact that both are changing from more to less homogeneity. As an incident to this study, the authors entertain the hope that the following purposes may be served: a specific understanding of historical process in southern Illinois, a contribution to folk-urban theory, a concrete demonstration of the feasibility of general law in the field of society, whether primitive or modern and a greater rapprochement between the disciplines of anthropology and sociology.

The article comments on the impacts of the war on the rural community in the U.S. Different communities react in different ways, depending among other things upon the section of the country, the degree of rurality, the homogeneity of the population, and the proximity of centers of war activity such as munitions plants and military reservations. In general, however, people can conclude that the more strictly rural areas have been somewhat slower than urban areas to become aroused to the grim realities of total war. However, even the residents of the more isolated rural communities are now beginning to feel the full impacts of the national crisis and are responding rapidly to the national need. That their response has been somewhat slow is no reflection on their patriotism or intelligence. It is a natural consequence of their relative isolation and reflects in part the slowness in which war programs have been coordinated to permit maximum participation. That the war has had a tremendous effect on the rural U.S. no one can deny. It is difficult, however, after a year at war to know just what the effects are and what adjustments are being made to meet the war impacts.