The Flu Pandemic of 1918 - National Archives Before COVID-19, the most severe pandemic in recent history was the 1918 influenza virus, often called “the Spanish Flu ” The virus infected roughly 500 million people—one-third of the world’s population—and caused 50 million deaths worldwide (double the number of deaths in World War I) In the United States, a quarter of the population caught the virus, 675,000 died, and life
The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - National Archives September 13, 1918 In October of 1918, Congress approved a $1 million budget for the U S Public Health Service to recruit 1000 medical doctors and over 700 registered nurses Nurses were scarce, as their proximity to and interaction with the disease increased the risk of death Record held at: National Archives at College Park, MD
The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - National Archives In one year, the average life expectancy in the United States dropped by 12 years It is an oddity of history that the influenza epidemic of 1918 has been overlooked in the teaching of American history Documentation of the disease is ample, as shown in the records selected from the holdings of the National Archives regional archives
President Woodrow Wilsons 14 Points (1918) | National Archives In this January 8, 1918, address to Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proposed a 14-point program for world peace These points were later taken as the basis for peace negotiations at the end of World War I
World War I Draft Registration Cards | National Archives World War I Draft Registration Cards Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Microfilm Roll Lists Part 1: Introduction Historical Background On May 18, 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed authorizing the President to increase temporarily the military establishment of the United States The Selective Service System, under the office of the Provost Marshal General, was responsible for the process of
Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I Records of the Third Army, including headquarters general correspondence, issuances, and historical files, 1918-19; records of miscellaneous headquarters units, 1918-19; correspondence of the personnel adjutant, 1918- 19; investigation reports, intelligence summaries, and an office history of the inspector general, 1918-19; records of the civil
19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution: Womens Right to Vote (1920) The 19th amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle—victory took decades of agitation and protest Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical
World War I Centennial: Events and Exhibits - National Archives The National Archives commemorates the 100th anniversary of the First World War Explore the experiences of Americans during this worldwide conflict through exhibits and events or visit our World War I portal page for primary source material Armistice Day—November 11, 1918 Enlarge A New York City crowd awaits the parade of the 369th Infantry (National Archives Identifier 533517) The long
Archives 1 Letterhead World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 On May 18, 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act authorizing President Woodrow Wilson to draft men into military service The Selective Service System required all men, regardless of citizenship, between the ages of 18 and 45 to register for the draft