19-2: American Power Tips the Balance

1. How did the U.S. raise an army? 1917 – only 200,000 men in the service Selective Service Act – May, 1917 –Required men 18 to 45 to register –24 million registered –2 million  Europe ( most had not attended high school and 20% foreign born) Wide acceptance – believed this was the “war to end all wars”

“You’re in the Army Now” Selective Service Act –24 million register –2.8 million are drafted –2 million volunteer –Democratic procedures controlled by local draft boards New IQ test shows illiteracy at 25% –“The military tent will rank next to the public schools among the great agents of democratization,” Teddy Roosevelt.

2. How did the U.S.expand it’s Navy so quickly Ran a campaign to emphasize the importance of ship-yard work Exempted shipyard workers from the draft Took over and refitted every ship designed for the Great Lakes Took over every ship under construction for private owners Began using fabrication to construct ship (example: concrete ships)

3. What was the significance of the Convoy System? Convoy system – heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships 230 mile barrier of mines in the North Sea – kept U-boats out of the Atlantic Only 637 Americans lost to U-boat attacks during transport to Europe Losses went from 900,000 tons/month to 200,000

Americans in Battle The Convoy System

General “Blackjack” Pershing Commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Believed in the total destruction of his enemy Doughboys Did not want to integrate with European forces Wanted to save his troops for offensive action Hated the defensive nature of the trenches

5. American War Heroes Alvin York He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others. Medal of Honor Germanmachine gun machine guns Alvin York

Conscientious Objector A person who believes fighting is morally wrong and therefore does not want to serve in the military. (Alvin York initially objected to being drafted, for his moral convictions)

“American ace of aces.” Eddie Rickenbacker repeatedly fought the dreaded Flying Circus—a German air squadron led by the “Red Baron,” Manfred von Richthofen. After engaging in 134 air battles and downing 26 enemy aircraft, Rickenbacker won fame as the Allied pilot with the most victories—

6.How did the arrival of new American troops affect the spirit of Allied troops? 7.How did the U.S. soldiers help win the war? Brought freshness and enthusiasm to fight Helped to stop German advances on Paris and several other French cities Helped win the Second Battle of the Marne Mounted offenses at St, Mihiel and in Meuse-Argonne

What new weapons of mechanized warfare threatened those in combat? Poisoned Gas Big Bertha Zeppelin

What new weapons of mechanized warfare threatened those in combat? Machine Gun Tanks Airplanes Mechanized Warfare: based on machines like tanks and planes

8.What did the war cost in terms of the number of … Military deaths: 13 million Injuries: 20 million Refugees: 10 million Civilian deaths: 13 million

8.Estimated Financial Costs? 350 Billion Dollars Cost in $ United States : 22,625,253,000 Great Britain : 35,334,012,000 France : 24,265,583,000 Russia : 22,293,950,000 Italy : 12,413,998,000 Belgium : 1,154,468,000 Romania : 1,600,000,000 Japan : 40,000,000 Serbia : 399,400,000 Greece : 270,000,000 Canada : 1,665,576,000 Australia : 1,423,208,000 New Zealand : 378,750,000 India : 601,279,000 South Africa : 300,000,000 British Colonies : 125,000,000 Germany : 37,775,000,000 Austria-Hungary : 20,622,960,000 Turkey : 1,430,000,000 Bulgaria : 815,200,000