European Allies finally confessed to the U.S. that not only were they running out of money to pay for their leans from American, but also, that they were running out of men, and that American would have to raise and train and army to send over to Europe, or the Allie would collapse.
This could only be solved with a draft, which Wilson opposed but finally supported as a disagreeable but temporary necessity. The draft bill then ran into some heated oppostion in Congress, but was finally passed. And unlike earlier wars, there was no way for one to buy one's way out.
Luckily, patriotic men and women lined up on draft day, disproving ominous predictions of bloodshed by the opposition of the draft. Within a few months, the army had grown to 4 million men and women. African Americans were also allowed in the army, however they were usually assigned to non-combat duty, demonstrating the lack of civil rights the African Americans still hadn't achieved. Also, training was so rushed that many troops didnt even know how to use their rifles, much less bayonets, but they were sent to Europe anyway.
This could only be solved with a draft, which Wilson opposed but finally supported as a disagreeable but temporary necessity. The draft bill then ran into some heated oppostion in Congress, but was finally passed. And unlike earlier wars, there was no way for one to buy one's way out.
Luckily, patriotic men and women lined up on draft day, disproving ominous predictions of bloodshed by the opposition of the draft. Within a few months, the army had grown to 4 million men and women. African Americans were also allowed in the army, however they were usually assigned to non-combat duty, demonstrating the lack of civil rights the African Americans still hadn't achieved. Also, training was so rushed that many troops didnt even know how to use their rifles, much less bayonets, but they were sent to Europe anyway.