What is a WWI draft registration card?
The registration cards consist of approximately 24,000,000 cards of men who registered for the draft, (about 23% of the population in 1918). It is important to note that not all of the men who registered for the draft actually served in the military and not all men who served in the military registered for the draft.
How do you read a ww1 draft card?
Deciphering World War I Draft Registration Cards & Numbering
- The first number represents the state (37 represents Pennsylvania)
- The second digit represents the District Board Number.
- The last number 18 is the Local Board Number.
What were draft cards?
When Selective Service began to store records on computer tapes in the early 1970s, the two cards were combined into one computer-generated Status Card. At no time was the card officially titled “draft card,” but it was by this colloquial name that the proof of registration was usually known.
Was there a draft for World War 1?
Some six weeks after the United States formally entered the First World War, the U.S Congress passes the Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917, giving the U.S. president the power to draft soldiers. The act required all men in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service.
How did ww1 draft work?
By the guidelines set down by the Selective Service Act, all males aged 21 to 30 were required to register to potentially be selected for military service. At the request of the War Department, Congress amended the law in August 1918 to expand the age range to include all men 18 to 45, and to bar further volunteering.
How do you get draft cards?
Locating Originals: The original draft cards are held by each state’s National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Regional Branch. All of these cards are also available on microfilm from the Family History Library (FHL) and/or NARA.
Was there an age limit for ww1?
Conscription introduced In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed. This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker.
Why was ww1 draft necessary?
Conscription expanded the powers of government, and whereas it was generally accepted by the populace as a patriotic duty, it also produced conflict on the homefront between the majority and those opposed to war, as well as those who believed the draft was unfair or incompatible with liberty.
Was the ww1 draft fair?
The Selective Service Act of 1917 or Selective Draft Act ( Pub. L. 65–12, 40 Stat. 76, enacted May 18, 1917) authorized the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War I through conscription….Selective Service Act of 1917.
| Other short titles | Conscription Act of 1917 Enrollment Act of 1917 |
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What were draft cards used for?
INTRODUCTION. The Viet Nam era draft card is also known by its legal description, the status card. The draft card was an aspect of the Selective Service Act, the federal legislation that legalized the conscription of eligible males into the American armed services during the Viet Nam war (1962–1973).
Was there a military draft during WW1?
The Draft in World War 1. (Flagg, “I want you for the U.S. army”) When our nation got involved in the First World War , we quickly realized that relying chiefly on voluntary enlistment wouldn’t cut it. We needed to raise more manpower in order to have enough men to fight.
What was the draft in World War 1?
The Selective Service Act of 1917 or Selective Draft Act ( Pub.L. 65–12, 40 Stat. 76, enacted May 18, 1917) authorized the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War I through conscription. It was envisioned in December 1916 and brought to President Woodrow Wilson ‘s…
What is military draft record?
Military draft records can include those who served, as well many who were drafted but never called to service. By the same token, those who enlisted or were already in the service at the time of the conflict will not be found in draft collections.