On 16 June 2026, the RIAS, in collaboration with the Netherlands American Studies Association, is pleased to host an online book presentation by Emmanuel Destenay of his new project, Uncle Sam’s Little Soldiers: Patriotism, Mobilization, and the Americanization of Children (1914–1918) (Cambridge University Press, 2026).
About the author
Emmanuel Destenay is working as a research fellow at Sorbonne University. He is the author of America’s French Orphans: Mobilization, Humanitarianism, and the Protection of France, 1914–1921 (Cambridge University Press, 2024). His new book, Uncle Sam’s Little Soldiers: Patriotism, Mobilization, and the Americanization of Children, 1914–1918, examines the unprecedented role American children played in supporting the nation and analyzes why educators, reformers, and public officials mobilized children’s hearts, minds, and energies as part of the broader wartime campaign for national unity during World War I.
About the book
Between 1914 and 1918, American children were mobilized to support the war effort through youth organizations such as the American Junior Red Cross and the United States School Garden Army. Operating across local, state, and federal levels—and often using schools as their primary platform—these organizations pursued multiple agendas, including fostering loyalty, altruism, and patriotism. While some viewed this movement as an effort to cultivate humanitarian values from an early age, others seized the opportunity presented by the war in Europe to promote a broader sense of American identity and foster a stronger sense of belonging among the diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups that populated the United States. Blending social, cultural, and political history, Emmanuel Destenay sheds light on the unparalleled contribution American children made to protect the nation, and analyzes why adults campaigned tirelessly for children’s hearts, minds, and energies during World War I.
Details and registration
- Format: Online on Zoom
- When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
- Time: 15:30–17:00 CEST
- Speaker: Emmanuel Destenay (Sorbonne University)
- Commentator: Christopher Capozzola (MIT)
- Host: Dario Fazzi (Leiden University/RIAS)
Please register here by Tuesday 16 June 2026 at 12:00 (CEST) to receive the Zoom link before the event.
