What act was passed in 1917 to authorize the U.S. intervention in World War I?

The Selective Service Act was enacted on May 18, 1917, and is significant because it allowed for the conscription of American men into military service during World War I. As the war escalated, the U.S. government recognized the need for a larger military force to support the Allied Powers. The Act instituted a system for drafting young men into the army, ensuring that the United States could field sufficient numbers of troops to aid in the conflict.

The Selective Service Act was not only crucial for increasing troop numbers but also marked a pivotal shift in U.S. policy towards an active military role in the war, transforming the country from a largely isolationist stance to one more directly involved in global affairs. This move was part of a larger wartime mobilization effort that included industrial production and economic measures to support the war effort.

In contrast, while the Espionage Act, passed in the same year, addressed issues related to espionage and sabotage, and the Neutrality Act was aimed at keeping the U.S. out of the war before 1917, they do not specifically authorize military intervention like the Selective Service Act does. The Space Act, unrelated to World War I, pertains to the regulation of space activities and was passed