Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The United States and the United Kingdom took markedly different approaches to military manpower before World War I.
The U.S. had no draft prior to WWI, depending entirely on voluntary enlistment. This system proved inadequate once the country entered the war in 1917, forcing the rapid implementation of the Selective Service Act to meet manpower needs.
In contrast, the UK introduced the Military Service Act in 1916, mandating service for men aged 18 to 41. The act was highly controversial, sparking protests, but it successfully bolstered British forces for the war effort.