Between 1914 and 1918, American children were mobilized to support the war effort through youth organizations such as the American Junior Red Cross and the United States School Garden Army. Operating across local, state, and federal levels—and often using schools as their primary platform—these organizations pursued multiple agendas, including fostering loyalty, altruism, and patriotism. While some viewed this movement as an effort to cultivate humanitarian values from an early age, others seized the opportunity presented by the war in Europe to promote a broader sense of American identity and foster a stronger sense of belonging among the diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups that populated the United States. Blending social, cultural, and political history, Emmanuel Destenay sheds light on the unparalleled contribution American children made to protect the nation, and analyzes why adults campaigned tirelessly for children’s hearts, minds, and energies during World War I.
