1916 National Defense Act Facts for kids: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
about the 1916 National Defense Act.
When was the National Defense Act passed? The National Defense Act
was passed on June 3, 1916.
Why did Congress pass the National Defense Act
in 1916? The reasons Congress passed the 1916 National Defense Act
were:
● In response to
the pressure of the Preparedness
Movement and opinion polls
supporting the increase of the US
army and navy.
● To strengthen the military of the United States
following the outbreak of the Great War in Europe on July 28, 1914.
● In response to
the outrage of public opinion over
the German policy of unrestricted
submarine warfare which had led to
the sinking of the British ocean
passenger liner, the
Lusitania which
was sunk by a German U-Boat
(submarine) on May 7, 1915, and the
German attack on 'The Sussex' passenger
ferry on March 24, 1916.
● The deteriorating relations between Germany and
the United States and the fear of sabotage and threats at home.
● The border raids by Pancho Villa during the
Mexican Revolution highlighted the need to reinforce the
nation's armed forces
1916 National Defense Act
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet on 1916 National Defense Act provides details of
the bill for kids.
Facts
about the 1916 National Defense Act for kids
1916 National Defense Act Fact 1:
The Great War began in Europe on July
28, 1914. The United States adopted a policy of
neutrality at the start of the war and did not enter
conflict until two and a half years after the war had
begun on April 6, 1917.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
2: Congress passed the National Defense Act
in June 1916 due to pressure by the Preparedness
Movement and public outrage following the sinking of the
Lusitania, the attack on the Sussex by Germany and
concerns for safety at home.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
3: Public fears were fueled further by the
1915 silent movie the 'Battle Cry of Peace' which featured enemy
agents conspiring with pacifists to keep the American defense
appropriations down at a time when enemy forces were preparing to
invade America. The invasion comes, and Washington, New York and
other American cities are devastated.
1916 National Defense
Act Fact 4: Before the
American entry to WW1
the US army only numbered 190,000 and they were spread
across America
1916 National Defense Act Fact
5: Opinion polls in the newspapers indicated almost
unanimous support for increasing the US army and navy.
Continued...
Facts
about the 1916 1916 National Defense Act for kids
1916 1916 National Defense Act
for kids
The info about the 1916 National Defense Act provides interesting facts and
important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 28th President of the United States of America.
1916 National Defense Act
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet on 1916 National Defense Act provides details of
the bill for kids.
Facts
about the 1916 National Defense Act for kids
1916 National Defense Act Fact
6: The law was drafted by James Hay, the Chairman of
the House Committee on Military Affairs.
1916 National Defense Act Fact 7:
The law brought the states' militias
more under federal control and gave the president
authority, in case of war, to mobilize the National
Guard for the duration of the emergency.
1916 National Defense Act Fact 8:
The law provided for a four-fold
expansion of the National Guard and mandated that the
term National Guard be used to refer to the combined
network of states' militias which became the primary
reserve force for the U.S. Army.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
9: The number of yearly National Guard
drills increased from 24 to 48 and annual training from
5 to 15 days. Drill pay was authorized for the first
time.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
10: The law provided for the creation of
an Officers' and an Enlisted Reserve Corps and formally
established the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to
train and prepare high school and college students for
Army service.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
11: The United States Army Junior Reserve
Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) also came into being
with the passage of the 1916 National Defense Act in
which high schools were authorized the loan of federal
military equipment and the assignment of active duty
military personnel as instructors.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
12: The Act also allowed President
Woodrow Wilson to establish the Council of National
Defense (CND) on 24 August 1916. The council
consisted of the Secretaries of War, Navy, Labor,
Agriculture, Interior and Commerce and was responsible
for investigating and advising the president on the
strategic placement of industrial goods and services for
potential and future use in times of war.
1916 National Defense Act Fact
13: The Naval Act of 1916, a massive
naval appropriations bill, was passed authorizing
10 battleships, 10 Omaha-class scout cruisers, 6
Lexington-class battle cruisers, 50 Wickes-class
destroyers and numerous other smaller warships to be
built over a period of just three years.
1916 National Defense Act Fact 14:
On April 6, 1917 President
Wilson declared war on
Germany and fought with the allies in WW1 during which
126,000 Americans died and 234,000 Americans were
wounded. tHE
Espionage and Sedition Acts were also passed before WW1 ended on 11 November 1918.
1916 National Defense Act Fact 15:
The National Defense Act Amendments of 1920
allocated over $17 million for the Army to field 375 new airplanes,
and created the Army's first Air Division, based at Langley Field,
Virginia. The National Defense Act Amendments of 1920
Facts
about the 1916 1916 National Defense Act for kids
Facts
about the 1916 National Defense Act: American entry
and US role World War I
On April 6, 1917 the United States
Senate declared war on Germany
and fought with the allies in WW1. For additional
facts and information refer to the following links: .
1916 National Defense Act for kids - President Woodrow Wilson Video
The article on the 1916 National Defense Act provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Woodrow Wilson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 28th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921.
1916 National Defense Act
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Woodrow Wilson Presidency from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921
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