War Minded Waukegan
With war being declared in the United States on April 6, 1917, the American people rallied behind President Wilson’s declaration. While businesses and manufacturers were switching over production to things needed to win the war, citizens of Waukegan were eager to rally behind the efforts. With close proximity to the Great Lakes Naval Base, Waukegan became a war-minded city.
During the fall of 1917, Waukegan hosted an event for the African American troops leaving for Camp Grant in Rockford. There were only six men from Lake County, three from Waukegan, who were part of this group. There was a lunch and parade as part of the send off.
One year later, all men were told to have registration cards on hand because an anti-draft dodging drive was going to be done in Waukegan, causing the arrest of men between the ages of 18 and 45 who were not yet registered. Waukegan businesses were eager to support the war effort by advertising that buying goods at their location would help support American made products, which in turn supported the troops.
The Armistice of November 11, 1918 was an agreement between the Allies and Germany to end the fighting. In a News Sun article from 1935, Waukegan is remembered as celebrating the Armistice like no other city, with bon-fires downtown and a carnival spirit.