History of the Act during WWI
The Selective Service Act authorized the federal government to raise an army for the American entry into World War I through conscription. It was mentally pictured in December 1916 and was brought to Woodrow Wilson’s attention soon after the break in relations with Germany in February 1917. The Act was drafted by Captain Hugh Johnson after the United States when into World War I with Germany. The Act was canceled with the end of the war in November, 1918. The Act was held by the United States Supreme Court in the Selective Draft Law Cases in 1918.
During the time of World War I, the U.S Army was small compared with the armies of the European powers. Late 1914, the federal army was under 100,000 while the National Guard was 15,000 higher. The National Defense Act of 1916 made the growth of the army to 165,000. By 1917, the federal army had only expanded to about 121,000.
By 1916, it became clear that the United States that had any participation with the conflict in Europe would need a bigger army. President Wilson first wished to use only volunteers for the troops. It soon became clear that this would be impossible. When the war was declared, Wilson wanted the army to increase to a force of one million. Six weeks after the war was declared, 73,000 had volunteered to fight in the war. Wilson accepted the recommendation by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker for a draft.
General Enoch H. Crowder, the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, was asked for his thoughts on it, he, at first, indicated his displeasure. Later, Crowder guided the bill through congress, with help from Caption Hugh Johnson and other people, he administered the draft as the Provost Marshal General.
Although, a problem came up in writing the bill and its negotiation. President Roosevelt had to assemble a volunteer force to go to Europe. President Wilson and many others, were reluctant to permit this for many reasons. The final bill contained a compromise, permitting the president to raise four volunteers divisions, a power Wilson did not practice.
The guidelines set down by the Selective Service Act, males ages 21 through 30 were required to register for military service. Congress amended the law in August 1918 to expand the age range to include men ageing from 18 to 45. At the end of World War I, about 2 million men volunteered for various branches of the armed services, and almost 3 million were drafted. This meant that more than half of the 4.8 million Americans who served, were drafted.
Due to the effort to encourage a patriotic attitude, the World War I draft had a high success rate, with less than 350,000 men trying to dodge the draft.
The biggest difference between the draft made by the Selective Service Act of 1917 and the Civil War draft was that a substitute could no longer be hired to fight, in the place of a man. During the Civil War, men who did not want to fight could hire a substitute. Although, it was too expensive to hire someone, the rich only could afford to do this. This resulted in a very low number of rich men fighting in the war. There was not a specific draft order for the draftee to be put into service.
Section Three of the Selective Service Act of 1917 stated:
"No person liable to military service shall hereafter be permitted or allowed to furnish a substitute for such service; nor shall any substitute be received, enlisted, or enrolled in the military service of the United States; and no such person shall be permitted to escape such service or to be discharged therefrom prior to the expiration of his term of service by the payment of money or any other valuable thing whatsoever as consideration his release from military service or liability there to.”
During World War I there was three registrations. The first, on June 5th, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 through 31. The second one, on June 5th, 1918, registered those who became age 21 after June 5th, 1917. A non scheduled registration included in the second registration, was held on August 24th, 1918, for those soon to become 21 years old after June 5th. The third registration was held on September 12th, 1918, for men ages 18 to 45.
The act was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in the Selective Draft Law Cases. The Solicitor General’s argument, and the court’s opinion, was essentially based on Kneedler v. Lane, and Vattel’s ‘The Law of Nations’.
After the signing of the armistice of November 11th, 1918, the activities of the Selective Service System curtailed quickly. March 31st, 1919, all local, district, and medical advisory boards were closed. Then, on May 21st. 1919, the last state headquarters closed. The Provost Marshal General was relieved from duty on July 15th, 1919, finally terminating the activities of the Selective Service System of World War I.
During the time of World War I, the U.S Army was small compared with the armies of the European powers. Late 1914, the federal army was under 100,000 while the National Guard was 15,000 higher. The National Defense Act of 1916 made the growth of the army to 165,000. By 1917, the federal army had only expanded to about 121,000.
By 1916, it became clear that the United States that had any participation with the conflict in Europe would need a bigger army. President Wilson first wished to use only volunteers for the troops. It soon became clear that this would be impossible. When the war was declared, Wilson wanted the army to increase to a force of one million. Six weeks after the war was declared, 73,000 had volunteered to fight in the war. Wilson accepted the recommendation by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker for a draft.
General Enoch H. Crowder, the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, was asked for his thoughts on it, he, at first, indicated his displeasure. Later, Crowder guided the bill through congress, with help from Caption Hugh Johnson and other people, he administered the draft as the Provost Marshal General.
Although, a problem came up in writing the bill and its negotiation. President Roosevelt had to assemble a volunteer force to go to Europe. President Wilson and many others, were reluctant to permit this for many reasons. The final bill contained a compromise, permitting the president to raise four volunteers divisions, a power Wilson did not practice.
The guidelines set down by the Selective Service Act, males ages 21 through 30 were required to register for military service. Congress amended the law in August 1918 to expand the age range to include men ageing from 18 to 45. At the end of World War I, about 2 million men volunteered for various branches of the armed services, and almost 3 million were drafted. This meant that more than half of the 4.8 million Americans who served, were drafted.
Due to the effort to encourage a patriotic attitude, the World War I draft had a high success rate, with less than 350,000 men trying to dodge the draft.
The biggest difference between the draft made by the Selective Service Act of 1917 and the Civil War draft was that a substitute could no longer be hired to fight, in the place of a man. During the Civil War, men who did not want to fight could hire a substitute. Although, it was too expensive to hire someone, the rich only could afford to do this. This resulted in a very low number of rich men fighting in the war. There was not a specific draft order for the draftee to be put into service.
Section Three of the Selective Service Act of 1917 stated:
"No person liable to military service shall hereafter be permitted or allowed to furnish a substitute for such service; nor shall any substitute be received, enlisted, or enrolled in the military service of the United States; and no such person shall be permitted to escape such service or to be discharged therefrom prior to the expiration of his term of service by the payment of money or any other valuable thing whatsoever as consideration his release from military service or liability there to.”
During World War I there was three registrations. The first, on June 5th, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 through 31. The second one, on June 5th, 1918, registered those who became age 21 after June 5th, 1917. A non scheduled registration included in the second registration, was held on August 24th, 1918, for those soon to become 21 years old after June 5th. The third registration was held on September 12th, 1918, for men ages 18 to 45.
The act was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in the Selective Draft Law Cases. The Solicitor General’s argument, and the court’s opinion, was essentially based on Kneedler v. Lane, and Vattel’s ‘The Law of Nations’.
After the signing of the armistice of November 11th, 1918, the activities of the Selective Service System curtailed quickly. March 31st, 1919, all local, district, and medical advisory boards were closed. Then, on May 21st. 1919, the last state headquarters closed. The Provost Marshal General was relieved from duty on July 15th, 1919, finally terminating the activities of the Selective Service System of World War I.
by Sheri Crider