8. World War I and Native Military Service
During World War I, thousands of Native Americans enlisted and served bravely, despite the fact that most were not recognized as U.S. citizens. Their service on the battlefield highlighted the contradiction of denying citizenship to people willing to defend the nation. This remarkable sacrifice helped shift public opinion and fueled growing support for granting Native Americans full citizenship rights in the years following the war (via Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian).
