State Historical Society of Iowa

"Ft. Leavenworth," 1918

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Ft. Leavenworth," 1918

Description

Approximately 20,800 of the 24 million men who registered for the draft were called up for military duty, and over 64,000 of them claimed Conscientious Objector (CO) status. Of these, 56,830 had their claims verified by local draft boards. About 80 percent of the 20,800 ultimately went to war, either by force or persuasion. A loyal 1,500 would completely renounce any kind of service, while the majority of the remaining 20% participated in noncombat roles. Four hundred and fifty people were sent to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas after being court-martialed. The print depicts a soldier using a rope over a rafter to hang a conscientious objector by the neck with his hands tied behind his back, as another soldier kicks him in the groin.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Was the expectation of military service justified according to this image? How does the treatment of the prisoner align with the speeches around Loyalty?
  • Was the expectation of military service justified according to this image? How does the treatment of the prisoner align with the speeches around Loyalty?

Citation Information

Becker, Maurice, "Ft. Leavenworth 1918," 1918. Courtesy of the Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress