GI Generation

GI Generation (1901-1924)

By Derek N, Michael P, and Jordan S

How the GI Generation gained their name...

• The GI Generation was a very militaristic generation and grew up during the great depression and would eventually go off into battle to fight World War 2
• GI is generally known to stand for "Government Issue" or "General Issue". GI is also used as a noun to describe the soldiers of the United States Military
• This generation was also known as 'The Greatest Generation', and they had to endure many hardships during the years of the great depression
• In Tom Brokaw's book in 1998, The Greatest Generation, he wrote "It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced." These men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do.

Music of the GI Generation

• Jazz music originated in the very early 1900's during the GI Generation, originating out of New Orleans
• Jazz music is considered to be the root of 20th century music
• Blues music was also a very influential genre of music during the GI Generation. Originating from old slave work songs, Blues music went hand in hand with Jazz music

DISNEY!!!!

The Airplane

Inventions and leisure

• In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon studio, and it established itself as a leader in the American Animation Industry

• The airplane was invented in 1903 by the Wright brothers
• The airplane would go on to be used during WWI, and evolved further to help the world

• Walt Disney showed how people from the GI Generation were hard-working and could become successful against all odds, as he moved to California at the age of 21 with $40 to his name

The National Football/Hockey League

• The National Football League we all know and love originated in 1920, in Canton, OH
• The National Hockey League was brought to America in 1924, and started up in Boston, Mass., and the Boston Bruins were born

World War I

The Babe

During WWI, we fought in Europe and it was a revolutionary war in that many new styles of warfare were introduced

• Trench warfare
• Tanks (Used in response to trench warfare)
• Poison Gas (Used in response to trench warfare)
• Medical advancements, such as better wound management and setting of bones

Babe Ruth was born in 1895, and made his MLB debut in 1914 to pitch and play outfield for the Boston Red Sox. Babe Ruth was one of the most popular and influential players in MLB history. He would go on to play for the Yankees, winning many world series in New York.

Babe Ruth became such an influential staple in American life that Japanese soldiers during WWII would scream "To hell with Babe Ruth", just to anger American soldiers

GI Presidents

The Presidents during the GI Generation were

• Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909)
• William H. Taft (1909-1913)
• Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
• Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)...Ouch
• Calvin Coolidge (1923-1927)

Willy

• William Howard Taft was famed for bieng by far the fattest president in American history
• Taft once got stuck in the bathtub inside the White House and had to be extracted by the Fire Department

Teddy

Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most influential president in American history, and the most influential during the GI Generation

• The Teddy bear was produced because he refused to shoot down a defenseless bear while hunting
• "Speak softly and carry a big stick"
• This quote refers to his foreign policy, which was to be docile, but prepare yourself for the worst