I AM FOR PREPAREDNESS

World War I era pinback supporting the Preparedness Movement, 1916. 3/4" cello in excellent condition with an IRWIN-HODSON Portland, Ore. backpaper. The Preparedness Movement was a campaign led by former U.S. Army Chief of Staff Leonard Wood and former President Theodore Roosevelt to strengthen the U.S. Military after the outbreak of World War I. The movement was initially opposed by President Wilson until the sinking of the Lusitania, at which point Wilson's attitude changed and Congress passed the National Defense Act in June 1916, which effectively quadrupled the size of the U.S. Armed Forces.