was there a draft in world war 1
Selective Service Act of 1917
The Selective Service Act 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 attention shortly after the break in relations with Germany in February 1917 . The Act itself was drafted by then - Captain ( later Brigadier General ) Hugh S. Johnson after the United States entered World War I by declaring war on Germany . The Act was canceled with the end of the war on November , 1918 . The Act was upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 1918 . 
The Selective Service Act 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 attention shortly after the break in relations with Germany in February 1917 . The Act itself was drafted by then - Captain ( later Brigadier General ) Hugh S. Johnson after the United States entered World War I by declaring war on Germany . The Act was canceled with the end of the war on November , 1918 . The Act was upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 1918 .
The Selective Service Act or Selective Draft Act was drafted after the United States entered World War I by declaring war on Germany .
The Selective Service Act or Selective Draft Act ( Pub. 76 , enacted May 18 , 1917 ) authorized the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War I through conscription . The Act itself was drafted by then - Captain ( later Brigadier General ) Hugh S. Johnson after the United States entered World War I by declaring war on Germany .