Green Corn Rebellion

Quick Facts: Who was Green Corn Rebellion?

Subject:

Green Corn Rebellion

Known for:

An armed uprising in rural Oklahoma in 1917 against WWI conscription and federal authority.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Green Corn Rebellion was an armed uprising and insurrection that took place in rural Oklahoma on August 2 and 3, 1917. The name "Green Corn Rebellion" was a reference to the purported plans of the rebels to march across the country and to eat "green corn" on the way for sustenance. They hoped to be joined by thousands of sympathizers, march to Washington, D.C., overthrow the federal government, abolish the draft, and end U.S. involvement in the war. Many of the rebels were aligned with the Socialist Party of America. Betrayed by an informer in their midst, the country rebels met with a well-armed posse of townsmen.

Career & Major Achievements

Shots were exchanged and three people killed. In the aftermath of the incident, scores of arrests were made and the Socialist Party of America, which had been strong in the region, was discredited in the public eye for allegedly having attempted to foment revolution. The incident became a pretext for national reprisals against the Industrial Workers of the World and the Socialist Party of America. On April 6, 1917, US President Woodrow Wilson, who had recently sworn into a second term of office for which he had run behind the slogan "He Kept Us Out of War," appeared between a joint session of the US Congress to ask for a declaration of war against Imperial Germany. Congress readily obliged Wilson's request by voting to declare war on Germany by a margin of 373–50 in the House of Representatives and 82–6 in the Senate.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The US government's decision to enter World War I was backed up with additional legislation imposing military conscription in America to staff the nation's wartime Army and Navy. On May 18, 1917, a draft bill became law. The bill called for all eligible young men nationwide to register for the draft on a single day, June 5, 1917. Isolated hotspots of anti-conscription activity occurred in some urban centers, but the registration process was generally an orderly affair, with the vast majority of young American men accepting their fate with what has been characterized as "a calm resignation." On July 20, 1917, a blindfolded Newton D. Baker, the Wilson administration's Secretary of War, drew numbers choosing certain registered young men for mandatory military service. Opponents of the war continued their efforts to change America's course by holding meetings and distributing pamphlets.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1917: 1917 Milestone — The Green Corn Rebellion was an armed uprising and insurrection that took place in rural Oklahoma on August 2 and 3, 1917.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Green Corn Rebellion

True or False: “The Green Corn Rebellion was primarily an anti-war protest movement that targeted the draft system.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The rebels aimed to overthrow the federal government and abolish the military draft following the U.S. entry into World War I.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Green Corn Rebellion