STATEHOUSE CALENDAR

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States of America entering World War I with an exhibit of American World War I recruitment posters.

World War I started when Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declared war of Serbia July 28, 1914, setting in motion a series of events that would ultimately engulf the world in war.

The Central Powers consisted of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the beginning of the war. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers later in 1914. In 1915, the Kingdom of Bulgaria joined the alliance.

The French Republic, the British Empire and the Russian Empire comprised the Entente, or Allied Powers, prior to 1917. In 1917, the Allied Powers were expanded when the United States of America answered the call and entered the conflict.

These posters helped mobilize the United States for war in April of 1917. The exhibit will be on display in the south hallway of the Ohio Statehouse until October 21—on this date in 1917 American troops first enter combat. Posters courtesy of the Library of Congress.