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American
World War One poster
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Facts on
America in WW1 for kids: US Neutrality violated
At the outbreak of WW1
President Wilson adopted a neutral position in
an effort to keep America from being drawn into
the
war that was raging in Europe. His neutral stance kept the US out of
the US conflict for 2½ years but the actions of Germany
violated US neutrality by attacking international
shipping with its unrestricted U-Boat submarine warfare
campaign.
Facts on
America in WW1:US declares War on April 6, 1917
America
declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917
and the ill-prepared nation was faced with meeting the
demands of entry into World War One - the Great War. In April 1917, the American Army
numbered only 300,000 including all the National Guard
units that could be federalized for national service.
Facts
on America in WW1: Government Action
Plans for the US entry into WWI were put
into immediate effect:
● The military
needed to be built up
● Industry needed to be organized to
increase efficiency and production
● Money had to
raised to support the war effort and pay for the war
● The workforce
needed to be mobilized
● Food and Fuel
had to be conserved
● The US
government needed to ensure support of its citizens
for the war
● Legislation to curtail
antiwar activities, espionage and enemies at home
America in WW1: Facts about America in WW1 for kids - Events at Home
This article contains interesting information about
important home events in homeland America during WWI
Facts
about
America in WW1 for kids
-
Events at Home
America in WW1 Fact
1: The date of the US entry into WW1
was April 6, 1917, two and a half years after the
war had begun. The date that World War 1 ended was 11
November 1918.
America in WW1 Fact
2: On May 18, 1917 the United States
passed the Selective
Service Act with a new conscription
system requiring all men between the ages of 21 - 30 to
register for the draft. A lottery randomly determined
the order men were called before a local draft board
(run by civilians from local communities) in charge of
exempting or selecting people for military service.
America in WW1 Fact
3: Just under 3 million Americans were
drafted in WW1 and approximately 2 million others
volunteered for military service.
America in WW1 Fact
4: African Americans in WW1: 400,000 African
Americans were drafted during the war, and over 40,000 African
Americans served overseas as combat troops
America in WW1 Fact
5: African Americans in WW1 - the "Great Migration":
The number of white workers drafted and the halt of immigration from
Europe led to a need for additional labor in factories and
industries in the north. Between 300,000 and 500,000 African
Americans left the South to settle in Northern cities which became
known as the "Great Migration"
America in WW1 Fact
6: The labor shortage caused by WW1 also prompted
the US government to encourage Mexicans to work in the United
States. Between 1917 - 1920, over 100,000 Mexicans migrated to
provide labor for the farmers of the Southwest - For more facts
check out
Mexican Migration
America in WW1 Fact
7: Women in the US Army: Over 20,000 nurses served in the army during
WWI including more than 10,000 overseas
America in WW1 Fact
8: Women in the US Navy: The navy authorized the
enlistment of women mainly to meet its clerical requirements but
also as torpedo assemblers, radio operators and pharmacists. Over
11,000 women served in the US navy during WWI.
America in WW1 Fact
9: Women also took jobs in factories and
industries producing supplies needed for the war effort.
America in WW1 Fact
10: Hollywood joined in the war effort
making propaganda movies and shorts and the movie stars
encouraged the sale of war bonds.
Continued...
Facts
about
America in WW1 for kids
-
Events at Home
Facts
about
America in WW1 for kids
-
Events at Home
Facts
about America in WW1 for kids and events at Home are detailed further in the fact sheet
for kids.
Facts
about
America in WW1 for kids
-
Events at Home
America in WW1 Fact
11: The American Federation of Labor
(AFL), and nearly all labor unions were strong
supporters of the war effort.
America in WW1 Fact
12: Other special boards were established
to encourage cooperation between the government and big
business ensuring efficient use of national resources to
further the war effort
America in WW1 Fact
13: In May 1917 the US government passed the Lever
Food and Fuel Act. Food Administration was headed by Herbert Hoover
in an effort to conserve food and boost agricultural output in the
US.
America in WW1 Fact
14: In May 1917 the
Committee on
Public Information,
also known as the CPI or the Creel Committee was established. The
Creel Committee began to issue official propaganda. In Washington,
D.C. daily 'Official Bulletins' were issued to convince Americans to
influence U.S. public opinion regarding American participation in
World War I.
America in WW1 Fact
15: The
Black Tom explosion on July 30,
1916, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was an act of sabotage
by German agents to destroy munitions that were to be
supplied to the Allies in World War I.
America in WW1 Fact
16: Rumors about biological sabotage in
Russia (in the form of anthrax and glanders)
undertaken on behalf of the Imperial German government
reached America and raised the nation's fears of
internal attacks
America in WW1 Fact
17: The
National Defense
Act was passed on June 3, 1916. The
Espionage Act of 1917 became
effective on June 15, 1917 and designed to punish acts
of interference with the foreign relations, US foreign
commerce, to punish espionage.
America in WW1 Fact
18: There was a strong wave of
anti-German sentiments and German citizens were required
to register with the federal government and always carry
their registration cards.
America in WW1 Fact
19: In July 1917 the
War Industries Board - WIB was
created to coordinate the production of war materials
America in WW1 Fact
20: On August 23, 1917 the Federal Fuel
Administration, run by Harry Garfield, was created to manage the
nation’s use of oil and coal. To conserve energy, Harry Garfield
introduced daylight savings time and shortened workweeks for
factories that did not manufacture war materials.
America in WW1 Fact
21: On December 26, 1917 the U.S.
government took temporary control of nation's railroads
under the Federal Possession and Control Act in order to
increase operating efficiency and modernize equipment.
America in WW1 Fact
22: In March 1918 Congress created the
National War Labor Board to prevent strikes that
would disrupt production in war industries.
America in WW1 Fact
23: The cost of the war was paid for by
increasing taxes and by selling
Liberty Bonds and
Victory Bonds
America in WW1 Fact
24: The
Sedition Act of 1918 became
effective on May 16, 1918 extending the Espionage Act of
1917 to cover a broader range of offenses, notably
speeches containing expressions of doubt about America's
role in the war or interfered with the sale of
government bonds.
America in WW1 Fact
25:
The Fourteen Points
Speech:
President Woodrow Wilson presented a speech to a joint
session of the US Congress on January 8, 1918 containing
fourteen points he considered were essential elements
for a peaceful settlement of WW1
America in WW1 Fact 26:
Fighting during World War 1 ceased
when an Armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities
went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh
day of the eleventh month on November 11, 1918.
Facts
about
America in WW1 for kids
-
Events at Home
America in WW1 for
kids: 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: .
America in WW1 - President Woodrow Wilson
Video
The article on the
America in WW1 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.
America in WW1
● Interesting Facts about America in WW1
for kids and schools
● Key events and America in WW1
for kids
● The America in WW1 , a major event in US
history
● Woodrow Wilson Presidency from March 4,
1913 to March 4, 1921
● Fast, fun facts about the America in WW1
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President
Woodrow Wilson
● Woodrow Wilson Presidency and America in
WW1 for schools, homework, kids and children |
