Pre-World War I campaign to increase U.S. military capabilities and convince the public of the need for U.S. involvement in a future European conflict.
Leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt and Gen. Leonard Wood sought to persuade Pres. Woodrow Wilson to strengthen U.S. national defenses, and various organizations sponsored preparedness parades to build public awareness and support. The campaign resulted in passage of the National Defense Act (1916); the U.S. entered World War I the following year.