Discuss the characteristics of American draftees and volunteers and their lives as soldiers during the First World War. What attempts were made to protect the virtue of American soldiers? Why? How successful were those attempts?

During the First World War, American draftees and volunteers came from diverse backgrounds, but they shared some common characteristics. Many were young, with the average age of soldiers being around 24 years old. They came from both rural and urban areas, and from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Life as a soldier during the First World War was incredibly challenging. American soldiers faced harsh conditions in the trenches, including exposure to the elements, disease, and constant threat of enemy attack. They also experienced the psychological toll of warfare, including witnessing the death and suffering of their comrades.

To protect the virtue of American soldiers, the military made several attempts to regulate their behavior. This included implementing strict codes of conduct, promoting moral and religious education, and providing recreational activities to keep soldiers occupied during their downtime. The military also enforced regulations on alcohol consumption and attempted to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Despite these efforts, it was difficult to fully protect the virtue of American soldiers. The harsh realities of war, combined with the stress and trauma of combat, often led to lapses in moral behavior. Additionally, the availability of alcohol and the presence of prostitution near military bases posed significant challenges to maintaining the virtue of soldiers.

Overall, the attempts to protect the virtue of American soldiers during the First World War were only partially successful. While some soldiers adhered to the regulations and maintained their moral integrity, others succumbed to the pressures and temptations of wartime life. The military's efforts to regulate behavior and promote moral values were important, but ultimately, the extreme conditions of war made it difficult to fully protect the virtue of American soldiers.