A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Which legislation increased the size of the armed forces from 120,000 to 5 million during the war?

1. Selective Services Act

2. National Defense Act

3. War Industries Board

4. National Labor Relations Act

The correct answer is: Selective Services Act

The correct choice is the Selective Service Act. This legislation was enacted during World War I to address the urgent need for military personnel as the U.S. entered the conflict. It mandated the registration of men for military service and established a system for conscription, which dramatically increased the size of the armed forces, ultimately swelling numbers from 120,000 to approximately 5 million. The other options, while significant in their own rights, do not pertain directly to the expansion of the military. The National Defense Act, adopted in 1916, did improve military preparedness before the war but did not lead to such a vast increase in troop numbers during the conflict itself. The War Industries Board was focused on industrial production and resource allocation for the war effort rather than military recruitment. Lastly, the National Labor Relations Act pertains to labor rights and was enacted well after the First World War, thus having no direct connection to the military recruitment during that period.