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How Did World War I Changed The Military

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The United States was still a relatively young country when the war in Europe erupted. Following their victory in the Spanish-American war, the United States showed itself to be in the running with some of the world power countries. The Great War was also unlike any conflict seen before, utilizing trench warfare over troops facing off in open fields. New technology including artillery, tanks, machine guns, barbed wire and even poison gas strengthened military defenses and resulted in large troop sacrifices that yielded little advance. (Corbett et al, 667) World War I was a conflict that the United States did not want a part of, a war that changed the military, and produced challenges and opportunities for American women.
World War I began shortly …show more content…

World War I resulted in many changes to the military for the United States. One of these changes was based on the fact that when the US joined the fight, they were ranked seventh in the world of military strength. With an enlisted strength of around 200 thousand men, the United States would be no match for the German force of 4.5 million (Corbett et al, 671) so Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1917. The Conscription Act, which was known at the time as the Selective Service Act gave the government the authority to draft American males into the armed forces as a military necessity. Originally the act called for a draft of men between the ages of 21 and 30 years old but was expanded to the range of 18 to 45 years old and resulted in drafting 2.8 million men into military service. (Danver, 743) Though resistance to the Conscription Act was strong, fewer than 350 thousand dodged the draft, making the act a very successful enterprise in the eyes of the government. Another change was the Lever Food and Fuel Control Act, authorizing the President to control production, distribution, and price of food products sued during the war effort. (Corbett et al,

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