Selective Service Act Definition Ww1. In the united states, the young men felt it was against the 13th amendment. Law on the books throughout this article, i will take a deeper look into the selective service act of 1917 as it pertains to the introduction of conscientious objectors status and the use of the law today.
The selective service act, aka selective draft act, was enacted on may 18, 1917 requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register with locally administered draft boards for military conscription by national lottery. Another word for selective service. Woodrow wilson on may 18, 1917, created the selective service system, which managed the induction of some 2.8 million men into the armed forces over the next two years and abolished the much maligned bounty system.
Armed forces were comprised of roughly 200,000 volunteers.
It originally conscripted all men aged 21 to 35 for a service period of 12 months. Law passed by congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft. In 1917, the selective service act was passed. It was envisioned in december 1916 and brought to president woodrow wilson's attention shortly after the break in relations with germany in february 1917.