may 2, 1914 - Selective Service Act
Description:
Before the Amerian entry into the war, the United States had a voluntary army of about 200,000 soldiers. These forces received low pay and lacked equipment. Few soldiers had ever seen combat. To enter the war, the military would need tens of thousands more soldiers and they would need it quickly. In May 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which created a national draft. The act required all men ages 21-30 to register for military service at local polling stations. This was the first time the U.S government had established a draft before entering a war.
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