In 1917, the United States was not ready to fight a modern war. Not only was its military undersized, but its economy and society were unprepared for the commitment required to wage war in the 20th century. It would need to do so. Quickly.
More than 350,000 African Americans served during World War I. Despite facing racism at home and in uniform, tens of thousands of black soldiers served courageously and capably in combat.
When the U.S. entered the war, many Americans did not fully support the decision to join the conflict. President Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to encourage support, while Congress passed two laws of questionable constitutionality.
During World War I, nearly forty percent of U.S. soldiers were immigrants or children of immigrants. Their service not only helped win the war, but accelerated the assimilation and acceptance of an entire generation of new Americans.
This 1919 poster by Howard Chandler Christy was commissioned for [...]
An Indian revolt against British rule played out in an American courtroom, demonstrating the complexities of a global conflict.
As a famous actor, ‘Bogie’ was iconic for the scar on his lip and his subsequent lisp, the origin of which has developed some lore. Here are two variations that have proven popular.
Americans on the home front, from the very young to the elderly, pitched in to help support the war effort. One of those efforts was knitting socks and other garments for the Doughboys.
‘Back Over There’ is a project focused on preserving the memory of the Italian-born who voluntarily enlisted or were drafted in the U.S. Army and lost their lives either in combat or disease in the years 1917-1919.
America in 1917 was a nation in the throes of wartime mobilization. The initial unpopular nature of the war, the threat of draft resistance, and the diversity of the United States transformed World War I into a “War for the American Mind.”
Keep Faith with the American Doughboy
The Doughboy Foundation
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A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2013.
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