The main reason why I wrote about my event is because World War 1 was the most important event during that time period for the United States and the rest of the world. At the time, newer inventions such as machine guns and mortars attributed to one of the highest death tolls of the early century and tactics such as trench warfare were a commonplace during battles. Also, the United States had entered late into the war and was more of a deciding factor.
April 6 1917 was the day that the United States declared war on Germany. Before that time, during the War, the United States remained a neutral country. The event that sparked America’s interest into joining the War was when a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania in 1915, holding a various group of Europeans and Americans. President Woodrow Wilson demanded an end on unrestricted warfare from Germany. Two years later, Germany resumed their attacks on merchant and passenger ships. Realizing that this would mean war from the United States and taking advantage of United States’ small military, Germany sent a telegram to Mexico. Known as the Zimmerman Telegram, it was an invitation to Mexico into the war to fight against the United States and gain back lost territories. Intercepted and released to the public, many Americans saw it as a proximate cause into World War 1. On April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States at the time, urged for Congress to declare war on Germany in a speech addressed to the congressmen. And 5 days later, Congress declared war on Germany.
Before this event, the military of the United States had been small and relied heavily on volunteers to join. After Congress had voted for the United States to go to war with Germany, they passed the Selective Service Act of 1917 in order to increase the amount of soldiers in the military to be sent to war. Because of this act, the military had increased dramatically, contributing to more than 2.8 million for the war overseas in Europe.
I chose the perspective of a U.S. citizen drafted into the Army. A month after Congress had declared war on Germany, the United States passed the Selective Service Act. This stated that all men 21 to 30 were required to register for the military. A year later, this was changed to all men 18 to 45 were required to register. This resulted in a total of 2.8 million people being drafted into the war compared to the 2 million that volunteered. That meant that there were more than 800 thousand men that were drafted into the military compared to the amount that volunteered. A lot of those that were drafted were unmarried men with no dependants and were deemed “fit for military service”.
April 6 1917 was the day that the United States declared war on Germany. Before that time, during the War, the United States remained a neutral country. The event that sparked America’s interest into joining the War was when a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania in 1915, holding a various group of Europeans and Americans. President Woodrow Wilson demanded an end on unrestricted warfare from Germany. Two years later, Germany resumed their attacks on merchant and passenger ships. Realizing that this would mean war from the United States and taking advantage of United States’ small military, Germany sent a telegram to Mexico. Known as the Zimmerman Telegram, it was an invitation to Mexico into the war to fight against the United States and gain back lost territories. Intercepted and released to the public, many Americans saw it as a proximate cause into World War 1. On April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States at the time, urged for Congress to declare war on Germany in a speech addressed to the congressmen. And 5 days later, Congress declared war on Germany.
Before this event, the military of the United States had been small and relied heavily on volunteers to join. After Congress had voted for the United States to go to war with Germany, they passed the Selective Service Act of 1917 in order to increase the amount of soldiers in the military to be sent to war. Because of this act, the military had increased dramatically, contributing to more than 2.8 million for the war overseas in Europe.
I chose the perspective of a U.S. citizen drafted into the Army. A month after Congress had declared war on Germany, the United States passed the Selective Service Act. This stated that all men 21 to 30 were required to register for the military. A year later, this was changed to all men 18 to 45 were required to register. This resulted in a total of 2.8 million people being drafted into the war compared to the 2 million that volunteered. That meant that there were more than 800 thousand men that were drafted into the military compared to the amount that volunteered. A lot of those that were drafted were unmarried men with no dependants and were deemed “fit for military service”.