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The women's suffrage, or suffragette, movement in Great Britain was dominated by two groups. The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), led by Millicent Garrett Fawcett, advocated peaceful protest, while the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by the Pankhurst family, condoned the use of more militant tactics, such as hunger strikes. Copyright The WPA Film Library.
83) This Day In History: April 2, 1917 – President Wilson Asks Congress to Declare War against Germany
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President Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany.
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Despite the huge need for manpower during World War II, U.S. military units officially remained segregated throughout the war. African-American soldiers who fought in the war were assigned to segregated squadrons, and they generally did not fight alongside their white counterparts. One notable exception, however, was the Battle of the Bulge, in which the extreme circumstances led military leaders to integrate approximately 2,500 African-American...
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The bitter battle between the French and Germans over the French fortress of Verdun from February 1916 until November 1916 is considered the greatest battle of World War I. Characterized by the massive use of artillery, the Battle of Verdun incurred high casualties - over 400,000 French and German soldiers each. The French, led by General Philippe Petain, ultimately held the region. This clip shows German soldiers preparing to rush the French lines...
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Before automobiles became common commodities, travel within most major world cities depended on horse -or donkey- drawn carriages. These hundreds of horses made many cities filthy, smelly places. The affordability of the Model-T automobile by Ford beginning in 1908 had a drastic effect on many cities, and it led to road improvements, suburbanization, and the rise of several industries. Copyright The WPA Film Library.
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When the United States declared war on Germany, the U.S. army totaled 128,000 soldiers. General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), estimated that three million soldiers were needed to wage a successful campaign. The only way to create such a large army in such a short amount of time was through mandatory military conscription. With the passage of the Selective Service Act of 1917, all men between the ages of 21 and...
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This World War II-era newsreel includes the following segments: 1. Cargo is dropped by parachute. 2. Roxas is elected President of the Philippines. 3. The queen of the Washington Apple Blossom Festival. 4. Army divers retrieve Japanese silver. 5. Joe Louis and Billy Conn weigh in for their boxing match. 6. A 3,000-pound iron ball is used to demolish New York slums. 7. The Kentucky Derby. (10 minutes)
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General George S. Patton was one of the most respected and feared Allied generals during World War II. Unhappy with Allied progress in Europe after D-Day, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower promoted Patton to the head of the Third Army and directed him to push his troops deeper into German-controlled territory. Patton soon became known for his military strategy and tenacity, and he was instrumental in the liberation of France and the Allied...
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On December 7, 1941, Japanese military forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying more than 300 aircraft and 18 ships and killing 2400 people. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt secured permission from Congress to officially enter World War II. Copyright The WPA Film Library.
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The Paris Peace Conference brought together representatives from France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States to negotiate the terms of peace at the conclusion of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its powers of war through territorial, military, and financial clauses. Copyright The WPA Film Library.