In this episode of pplpod, we dive deep into the Selective Service Act of 1917, the pivotal legislation that transformed the United States military during World War I.

Did you know that when the U.S. entered the Great War, its regular standing army had fewer than 100,000 men? President Woodrow Wilson initially hoped to rely on volunteers, but when only 73,000 men signed up on the first day, it became clear that a massive WWI draft was the only way to quickly mobilize a fighting force for the European front.

Join us as we explore the history of conscription in the United States and uncover how the government built a modern military overnight. In this episode, we cover:

• The End of "Substitutes": How the Selective Service Act  ...