Warm-upWarm-up

How do you think the addition How do you think the addition of the United States would of the United States would

affect The Great War?affect The Great War?

Preparing for warPreparing for war At first, the U.S. sent At first, the U.S. sent

only supplies, support, only supplies, support, arms and a force of arms and a force of 14,500 men led by 14,500 men led by John J. Pershing.John J. Pershing.

Pershing Pershing recommended that recommended that the army number one the army number one million men by 1918 million men by 1918 and three million by and three million by 1919.1919. General Pershing fought against

Indians on the Western frontier, chased down Pancho Villa, fought rebels in the Philippines and fought with Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba.

Draftees and VolunteersDraftees and Volunteers The Selective Service Act authorized a The Selective Service Act authorized a

draft of young men for military service.draft of young men for military service. By 1918, more than 24 million men had By 1918, more than 24 million men had

registered. Three million of these were registered. Three million of these were picked and along with volunteers and picked and along with volunteers and National Guardsmen, they made up the National Guardsmen, they made up the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)American Expeditionary Force (AEF)..

In addition, 11,000 women volunteered as In addition, 11,000 women volunteered as non-combatants.non-combatants.

TrainingTraining

Draftees were sent to camps where Draftees were sent to camps where they were prepared for World War I.they were prepared for World War I.

In most cases, training was In most cases, training was abbreviated in order to get troops to abbreviated in order to get troops to Europe quicker.Europe quicker.

Convoy SystemConvoy System

In April of 1917, German U-boats In April of 1917, German U-boats sunk more than 400 Allied and sunk more than 400 Allied and neutral ships.neutral ships.

The convoy system consisted of The convoy system consisted of troop transport ships, destroyers and troop transport ships, destroyers and ships fitted with anti-submarine ships fitted with anti-submarine capabilities (torpedoes and capabilities (torpedoes and hydrophones).hydrophones).

American Soldiers in EuropeAmerican Soldiers in Europe

General Pershing kept American General Pershing kept American soldiers separated from Allied soldiers separated from Allied soldiers so that they would not soldiers so that they would not become too defensive.become too defensive.

The European soldiers were tired and The European soldiers were tired and weak when the soldiers from the U.S. weak when the soldiers from the U.S. arrived. arrived.

American soldiers picked up the American soldiers picked up the nickname “doughboys.”nickname “doughboys.”

SegregationSegregation– 300,000 African Americans served in the 300,000 African Americans served in the

armed forces during WWI.armed forces during WWI.– These soldiers fought in segregated units when These soldiers fought in segregated units when

they were allowed to fight.they were allowed to fight.– The 369The 369thth Infantry Regiment, known as Infantry Regiment, known as

Harlem’s Hell Fighters asked to be loaned to Harlem’s Hell Fighters asked to be loaned to the French, who allowed them to fight.the French, who allowed them to fight.

– They went on to win France’s highest combat They went on to win France’s highest combat medal.medal.

Turning the Tide of the WarTurning the Tide of the War In November 1917, In November 1917,

Lenin and the Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew Bolsheviks overthrew the Republican the Republican government and government and signed a truce with signed a truce with Germany, giving up Germany, giving up land.land.

This enabled Germany This enabled Germany to send troops from to send troops from the Eastern front to the Eastern front to the west.the west.

Europe in 1917

The Germans AdvanceThe Germans Advance

In March of 1918, the Germans In March of 1918, the Germans attacked the Western Front.attacked the Western Front.

They broke through the lines and They broke through the lines and advanced into Allied territory.advanced into Allied territory.

By the end of May they were within By the end of May they were within 50 miles of Paris.50 miles of Paris.

The U.S. Saves ParisThe U.S. Saves Paris

In late May, American troops turned In late May, American troops turned Germany’s offensive back and recaptured Germany’s offensive back and recaptured Allied territory.Allied territory.

As American troops went on the offensive, As American troops went on the offensive, they were commanded to dig no trenches.they were commanded to dig no trenches.

In the Second Battle of the Marne, French In the Second Battle of the Marne, French and American troops counterattacked the and American troops counterattacked the Germans and pushed them back.Germans and pushed them back.

CounterattackCounterattack With 250,000 American troops arriving in With 250,000 American troops arriving in

Paris every month, the Allies had the Paris every month, the Allies had the upper hand.upper hand.

They were also able to use the tank to They were also able to use the tank to successfully attack trenches.successfully attack trenches.

The Allies demanded that Germany The Allies demanded that Germany surrender unconditionally.surrender unconditionally.

In September, 500,000 American troops In September, 500,000 American troops attacked positions long held by the attacked positions long held by the Germans.Germans.

Soon the Germans were in retreat. Their Soon the Germans were in retreat. Their supply lines were broken.supply lines were broken.

War in the AirWar in the Air

In the 1918 offensive, the United In the 1918 offensive, the United States used airplanes to drop bombs States used airplanes to drop bombs on enemy positions.on enemy positions.

Airplanes had not been used in this Airplanes had not been used in this role to this point.role to this point.

Ending the WarEnding the War As the Central Powers lost more and more As the Central Powers lost more and more

ground, the ethnic groups inside their ground, the ethnic groups inside their empires started to declare independence.empires started to declare independence.

This happened in Austria-Hungary and the This happened in Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.Ottoman Empire.

As Germany lost more ground, their navy As Germany lost more ground, their navy and then army mutinied, refusing to fight and then army mutinied, refusing to fight any longer.any longer.

The Kaiser fled Germany and the new The Kaiser fled Germany and the new German Republic signed an armistice on German Republic signed an armistice on November 11, 1918.November 11, 1918.

Influenza EpidemicInfluenza Epidemic

In the last months of the war, an In the last months of the war, an epidemic of influenza killed more epidemic of influenza killed more people than all of the battles of WWI.people than all of the battles of WWI.

The new strain of influenza attacked The new strain of influenza attacked all ages and spread easily in the all ages and spread easily in the unsanitary conditions of military unsanitary conditions of military bases.bases.

Results of WarResults of War 50,000 Americans died in WWI.50,000 Americans died in WWI. Many more died from disease.Many more died from disease. 8 million European soldiers died in WWI.8 million European soldiers died in WWI. Many more were wounded.Many more were wounded. Gas had blinded many.Gas had blinded many. Some had to have feet amputated as a Some had to have feet amputated as a

result of trench foot.result of trench foot. In the Ottoman Empire, genocide was In the Ottoman Empire, genocide was

carried out against the Armenians, who carried out against the Armenians, who they suspected of being disloyal during the they suspected of being disloyal during the war.war.