July 28th 1914, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia starting World War I. Over 15 major countries and empires engaged in the nearly four-and-a-half-year war, which killed nearly 40 million people.
Many countries didn’t think the war would last pass Christmas. However, the system of alliances throughout Europe created a larger war than most had intended. American earlier on didn’t see a need to get involved in the war. One popular anti-war song, “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to be a Soldier” showed America’s thoughts in December of 1914.
However, before America official joined the war in 1917, we were sending supplies; among them grain from Minnesota.
Over 118,000 Minnesotans served during the war. Most Minnesotan casualties were from disease because few saw regular action on the front lines.
100 years later we still feel the affects of the war that was suppose to end all wars. Most notably in the Middle East, where the countries formed from the collapsed Ottoman Empire still clash over disputed borders .

By — Lakeland PBS

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