- What would it take to pull the most powerful countries on earth into a war so massive it would change the world forever?

In the early 1900s, a chain reaction of events exploded into the Great War, or what later became known as World War I. And before long, the United States was swept into it.

The reasons weren't simple.

Alliances, secret deals, economic interests, and rising tensions all collided.

But if we break it down step by step, the story starts to come together.

While the fighting was happening across the Atlantic, Georgia was far from the sidelines.

From training camps and soldiers to support and sacrifices on the home front, one southern state played a surprisingly important role in a global conflict.

(suspenseful music) At first, the United States wanted no part in World War I. When the conflict began in Europe in 1914, American leaders chose neutrality or the decision not to take sides, but other nations didn't always respect America's neutrality.

In 1915, a German submarine sank a British passenger ship, the Lusitania, killing nearly 1,200 people, including more than 120 Americans.

Suddenly, a distant war felt much closer to home.

Still, the United States stayed out of the war.

Many Americans hoped the conflict could still be avoided, but two years later, things would change.

On January 17th, 1917, British intelligence intercepted a secret German message known as the Zimmermann Telegram.

In the Telegram, German leaders asked Mexico to join forces if the United States entered the war and to seek support from Japan.

In return, Germany promised to help Mexico regain territory, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, it had lost years earlier.

When Congress and the American public learned about the Zimmermann Telegram, opinion about the war shifted almost overnight.

Citizens were outraged and political leaders were ready to take action.

Neutrality no longer felt like the safe option.

So, on April 6th, 1917 about a month after the news of the Zimmermann Telegram spread, the United States formally declared war against Germany.

But in a world war, no country fights alone.

Instead, nations formed partnerships or alliances.

Germany already had its partners, which primarily included Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Together, they were known as the Central Powers.

Now, the United States needed its own partners to try to defeat them.

Ultimately, the US joined forces with the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, becoming part of the Allied Powers.

With the allies secured, the next step was clear for the US, build a fighting force.

So Congress created a draft or a system that requires men to serve in the military if called.

Millions of Americans were drafted into World War I, including more than 100,000 Georgians.

But Georgia didn't just send soldiers, it became a military powerhouse.

Military leaders saw the advantages of the state immediately, a warm climate that allowed year-round training, railroads for easy transportation, and growing cities that had space for new military camps.

In Atlanta, camps such as Camp Gordon and Fort McPherson became major training centers.

Fort McPherson also operated as a military hospital and held German prisoners of war.

Other sites like Camp Benning near Columbus, Camp Wheeler near Macon, and Augusta Arsenal and Camp Hancock also became significant military locations for training and storing supplies.

In fact, Georgia was home to more World War I training camps than any other state.

For many young Georgians who had never left their rural hometowns, military service brought new experiences.

They saw electric lights, street cars, telephones, indoor plumbing, all signs of a rapidly modernizing world, but it wasn't just service members who supported America's war effort.

Georgia's farmers and textile mill workers played a vital role in World War I. Cotton was in high demand for civilian clothing and military uniforms, and it was even used in the production of explosives.

So farmers and mill workers increased production to supply this critical resource for the war.

Women were also a driving force behind the scenes.

They planted liberty gardens in backyards and empty lots to feed their families and help prevent food shortages in the US.

Many also carefully rationed supplies, like sugar and meat, while keeping spirits high at home.

Millions of women also took over jobs in factories, offices, and hospitals, doing work that had traditionally been done by men who are now fighting overseas.

African Americans played an important role as well.

They served in the military, worked in wartime industries like electronic, automotive, and aerospace production, and supported troops both at home and abroad.

Even while facing segregation and unfair treatment in the United States, they continued to fight for a country that didn't always fight for them.

Across the nation, support for the war showed up in another critical way.

Families bought war bonds, which loaned money to the government to help fund the fight.

When people bought these bonds, they were giving money to the government to help pay for things like weapons, equipment, ships, and supplies for soldiers.

In return, the government promised to pay the money back later with interest.

Buying bonds became a patriotic duty.

Posters, parades, and community events encouraged people to contribute what they could.

In this way, millions of ordinary Americans helped support the war effort, even if they never stepped onto the battlefield.

By the final year of World War I, American troops, including many who were trained in Georgia, were arriving in Europe by the hundreds of thousands each month.

Then on November 11th, 1918, the fighting stopped.

Germany surrendered and World War I was officially over.

Today, Americans honor November 11th as Veterans Day, remembering all who served in the US military, not just those who fought in the Great War for their patriotism, service, and sacrifice.

Georgia may not have been a battlefield, but its soldiers, camps, and resources demonstrated the state's dedication to the nation.

Thanks to Georgia's contributions, America strengthened its role and later found victory in World War I.

(triumphant music) (gentle music)