It was a way for the US to recruit soldiers to send to Europe, as the US was short of soldiers and even passed conscription acts to draft people into the army. Furthermore, Americans still harbored anti-war sentiments, as Wilson was re-elected campaigning not to go to war. This patriotic song helped ease American fears and gave confidence that U.S. troops would be able to quickly end the war. On a global scale, the song is linked to America's entry into World War I, an event that consolidated the Allied victory, shaping world history leading up to World War II. Domestically, the song gave people hope because it reflected the belief that U.S. troops would be able to dominate Europe and return home safely. Eventually, however, the death and destruction left by the war became apparent. Faith in Wilson's grandiose ideals and patriotism faded as people began to see US involvement in the war as a mistake, accepting Harding's offer to "go back to normal." As a result, this song is also firmly situated in a change of eras as the United States moved past World War I and into the Roaring.