national defense act increased the number of army and national guardsmen august $313 million...
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NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ARMY AND NATIONAL GUARDSMEN
AUGUST $313 MILLION CHANNELED INTO BUILDING UP THE NAVY
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE CREATED TO COORDINATE INDUSTRY AND DEFENSE
SHIPPING BOARD GIVEN $50 MILLION TO UPDATE MERCHANT MARINE FLEET
THE U.S. PREPARED FOR WAR
1916
THE ELECTION OF 1916
WILSON RAN ON THE SLOGAN “HE KEPT US OUT
OF WAR!” HOWEVER HE KNEW THAT THE U.S. WAS
GETTING CLOSER TO ENTERING THE WAR
DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON
REPUBLICAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CHARLES
EVANS HUGHES
HUGHES CHALLENGED WILSON’S
UNWILLINGNESS TO STAND UP TO THE
GERMANS
GERMANY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD RESUME THEIR U-BOAT CAMPAIGN AND SINK ALL
(INCLUDING AMERICAN) SHIPS IN THE WAR ZONE. MANY GERMANS WERE STARVING FROM THE BRITISH BLOCKADE AND THE
GERMAN MILITARY BELIEVED THEY COULD FORCE THE BRITISH TO SURRENDER IN A FEW
MONTHS, BEFORE THE U.S. WOULD ENTER, AND WIN THE WAR.
WILSON CLUNG TO THE HOPE THAT GERMANY WOULD NOT ACTUALLY ATTACK U.S. SHIPS,
HOWEVER IN MARCH FOUR UNARMED MERCHANT SHIPS WERE SUNK, WITH 36 LIVES
LOST.
FEBRUARY 1, 1917
ZIMMERMANN NOTE (1917)
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our
intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace.
We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The
details are left to you for settlement. . . . You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate
with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany
and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a
few months.
Alfred Zimmermann, German Foreign Minister 1916
WILSON ASKED CONGRESS TO DECLARE WAR APRIL 2, 1917
“THE WORLD MUST BE MADE SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY. ITS PEACE MUST BE PLANTED UPON
THE TESTED FOUNDATIONS OF
POLITICAL LIBERTY. WE HAVE NO SELFISH ENDS
TO SERVE. WE DESIRE NO
CONQUEST, NO DOMINION. WE
SEEK NO INDEMNITIES FOR OURSELVES, NO
MATERIAL COMPENSATION
FOR THE SACRIFICES WE SHALL FREELY
MAKE.”
CONGRESS DECLARED WAR APRIL 6, 1917“Whereas the Imperial German
Government has committed repeated acts of war against
the Government and the people of the United States of
America; Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and
the House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled, that the state of war between the
United States and the Imperial German Government which has
thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby
formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby,
authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United
States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the
conflict to a successful termination all of the
resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United
States.”
EXCERPT FROM THE WAR DECLARATION
•FROM 200,000 TO 4,791,172 IN ARMED FORCES •32 NEW CANTONMENTS AND CAMPS BUILT FOR 40,000 SOLDIERS EACH AT A COST OF $262M. (PANAMA CANAL COST $375M.)
•2,800,000 DRAFTED - SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT MAY 19 •42 DIVISIONS SENT TO FRANCE - 2,084,000 MEN
CAMP KEARNEY FREMONT, CA
MAY 1, 1917 - ARMY EXPANSION ACT
REQUIRED ALL MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21-30 (LATER CHANGED TO 18-45) TO REGISTER FOR THE
DRAFT
ABOUT 24 MILLION MEN REGISTERED, 23% OF TOTAL POPULATION
ABOUT 11,000 WOMEN VOLUNTEERED AS NURSES, CLERICAL WORKERS AND TELEPHONE OPERATORS
SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT MAY 18, 1917
GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING, COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN WWI
"ALL A SOLDIER
NEEDS TO KNOW IS HOW TO SHOOT
AND SALUTE."