Gymnastics at Fort McPherson
1917 - 1918
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This photograph shows "alien enemies" interned at Fort McPherson in Georgia during World War I.
The United States officially entered World War I with President Woodrow Wilson's declaration of war on April 6, 1917. As part of his declaration, Wilson called on residents in the United States, citizen and immigrant alike, to loyally uphold all laws and to support all measures adopted in order to protect the nation and secure peace. Some individuals were termed "alien enemies" – all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of Germany and its allies (including American-born women who married German men).
The declaration included twelve regulations that restricted the conduct of alien enemies in the United States. Broadly, the regulations barred owning firearms, established a permitting process to reside or work in areas deemed as restricted zones or to depart the United States, and laid out policies regarding threats and attacks against the United States, along with condemning all aid to the enemy.
Regulation 12 stated that "an alien enemy whom there may be reasonable cause to believe to be aiding or about to aid the enemy...or violates any regulation promulgated by the President...will be subject to summary arrest... and to confinement in such penitentiary, prison, jail, or military camp." The War Department established war prison barracks at Fort Oglethorpe, GA; Fort McPherson, GA; and Fort Douglas, UT.
The United States officially entered World War I with President Woodrow Wilson's declaration of war on April 6, 1917. As part of his declaration, Wilson called on residents in the United States, citizen and immigrant alike, to loyally uphold all laws and to support all measures adopted in order to protect the nation and secure peace. Some individuals were termed "alien enemies" – all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of Germany and its allies (including American-born women who married German men).
The declaration included twelve regulations that restricted the conduct of alien enemies in the United States. Broadly, the regulations barred owning firearms, established a permitting process to reside or work in areas deemed as restricted zones or to depart the United States, and laid out policies regarding threats and attacks against the United States, along with condemning all aid to the enemy.
Regulation 12 stated that "an alien enemy whom there may be reasonable cause to believe to be aiding or about to aid the enemy...or violates any regulation promulgated by the President...will be subject to summary arrest... and to confinement in such penitentiary, prison, jail, or military camp." The War Department established war prison barracks at Fort Oglethorpe, GA; Fort McPherson, GA; and Fort Douglas, UT.
This primary source comes from the Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs.
National Archives Identifier: 31479735
Full Citation: Photograph 165-WW-162A-70; Gymnastics at Fort McPherson; 1917 - 1918; Enemy Activities - Internment Camps - Fort McPherson, Georgia; American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 - 1918; Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs, Record Group 165; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/1-gymnastics-fort-mcpherson, December 1, 2023]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
