Americans At War

American Revolution 1776-Americans declare independence from Great Britain Because: Great Britan taxed the colonists No representation in government General George Washington led the revolution Important Battles: Battle of Lexington & Concord 1775 Battle of Saratoga 1777 Battle of Yorktown Britain recognized United States

Boston Tea Party 1773 Bloody Massacre(Boston) 1770 Washington Crossing the Delaware December 1776

Mexican War American settlers moved to Texas- which belonged to Mexico U.S. took control of Texas (annexed) war with Mexico Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo U.S. land that is now California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico was gained during this Treaty.

Battle of Monterey during the Mexican War

Civil War War was started initially over states’ rights South- rural Agricultural- depended on cotton (pro slavery) North- urban Industry- factories (most were anti-slavery) Abraham Lincoln president

Civil War states seceded making the Confederate States of America North had more resources and won the war 600,000 Americans died Slavery became illegal

World War I Began in Europe Allied Powers: Great Britain France Russia Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Germans sink American ship. U.S enters war Germany became weak and war ended

Major Causes of WWI Nationalism Rivalry over colonies Arms Race Military Alliances

CONGRESS DECLARED WAR APRIL 6, 1917 “Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America; Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.” EXCERPT FROM THE WAR DECLARATION

COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION : CREATED BY PRESIDENT WILSON TO SPREAD PRO-WAR PROPAGANDA LED BY JOURNALIST GEORGE CREEL

WAR PROPAGANDA POSTERS

NEW WEAPONS CREATED A NEW STYLE OF FIGHTING

RAILWAYS EVEN THOUGH NOT A NEW TECHNOLOGY, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SUPPLYING AND TRANSPORTING TROOPS

SHIPS, ALTHOUGH NOT A NEW TECHNOLOGY, WERE VITAL TO SUPPLY TROOPS AND CONTROL PORTS

AIRPLANES ENTERED THE SCENE

ZEPPELINS HAD BEEN USED FOR PASSENGER TRAVEL PRIOR TO THE WAR AND DURING THE WAR BECAME FIGHTER AIRCRAFT THESE PHOTOS SHOW THE DEVASTATION OF A ZEPPELIN ATTACK

SUBMARINES, CALLED “U-BOATS” BY THE GERMANS, WERE USED TO SINK SUPPLY SHIPS

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED CANNONS

MACHINE GUNS

TANKS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED

POISONOUS GAS

TRENCH WARFARE

MOST OF THE TIME IN THE TRENCHES WAS SPENT WAITING FOR THE FIGHTING TO BEGIN SLEEPING TOOK PLACE IN SHIFTS SO SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS WATCHING THE ENEMY

“OVER THE TOP”

“NO MAN’S LAND” THE AREA BETWEEN THE TRENCHES WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE

BALLOONS WERE USED FOR FINDING THE POSITION OF THE ENEMY AND FOR RESCUE OF FALLEN SOLDIERS

AERIAL VIEW OF THE TRENCHES

TREATY OF VERSAILLES SIGNED JUNE 28, 1919

World War Germany invaded Poland Germany’s economy was in bad shape after WW1 Hitler rose to power and became dictator U.S. stayed out of war

Pearl Harbor Japanese attack United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 Resulted in: 188 aircrafts destroyed 2,402 were killed 1,282 injured United States’ entry into the war

ALLIES (4 major powers) England United States USSR France AXIS Germany Japan Italy

Women took jobs in factories to support the war Recruiting poster Propaganda

D-Day On June 6, 1944 (known as D-Day), the Western Allies invaded northern France These landings were successful, and led to the defeat of the German Army units in France. Allies continued advances on Germany December 16, Germany made a desperate last attempt to take the western front

Liberation of Concentration Camps

On July 11, the Allied leaders met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss terms of agreement German surrender took place in late April and early May Japan continued to reject the Potsdam terms, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August Japan surrenders August 15, 1945 and the war is over.

U.S. drops bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II

END OF THE WAR

Cold War After WW2- U.S. and Soviet Union competed for world leadership DEMOCRACY VS. COMMUNISM It was called the Cold War because there were no actual battles Produced large numbers of military weapons Ended with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991

The Arms Race: }The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in }Now there were two nuclear superpowers!

President Bush and Premier Gorbachev signing to end to the Cold War

Vietnam War

War on Terror September 11, worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil about 3000 people died Government set up office of Homeland Security protect country against terrorism U.S. carried out wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - Al-Queda -Taliban -Isis