The Great War and America : civil-military relations during World War I / Nancy Gentile Ford.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [169]-175) and index.

1. The Preparedness Movement: America Reevaluates Its Military -- 2. Drafting and Training Citizen-Soldiers: New Civil-Military Relations -- 3. Mobilizing Public Opinion and Suppressing Dissent: Civil-Military Cooperation and Conflict -- 4. Over There: Science, Technology, and Modern Warfare -- 5. Demobilization and Reemployment: The War Department Steps In.

"The First World War marked a key turning point in America's involvement on the global stage. Isolationism fell, and America joined the ranks of the Great Powers. Both the federal government and the military expanded rapidly during this time, in terms of size and power. The new group of citizen-soldiers, diverse in terms of class, religion, ethnicity, regional identity, education, and ideology, offered training challenges. New government-military-business relationships experienced failures and successes, while delicate relationships with allies translated into diplomatic considerations and battlefield command concerns." "Civil-military relations faced new challenges as a result. Ford examines the multitude of changes that stemmed from America's first major overseas coalition war, including the new Selective Service process; mass mobilization of public opinion; and issues related to the training of diverse soldiers; to civil liberties, anti-war sentiment and conscientious objectors; segregation and warfare; and Americans fighting under British or French command. Post-war issues of significance, such as the Red Scare and retraining during demobilization are also covered."--BOOK JACKET.