Americans on the European Front Chapter 19 Section 3 Americans on the European Front
In what ways was the United States unprepared to help the Allies in 1917? The U.S. Army was very small The Marines were busy patrolling Central American nations and Pacific possessions The National Guard needed training Only 120 small planes Only 55 pilots
In what ways did the U.S. offer immediate help? Wilson sent the Allies an initial force of 14,500 men led by General John J. Pershing Naval support Supplies Weapons $3billion in loans
Why do you think this poster was so effective? It inspired patriotism while also bringing the war to a personal level It is a direct appeal to the viewer
Selective Service Act Passed in 1917 Authorized a draft of young men for military service 24 million men registered for the draft 3 million were drafted
American Expeditionary Force (AEF) American armed forces sent to Europe
Why was training important to the war effort? Most soldiers were new to the armed forces and needed to learn how to Dig ditches Fight with bayonets Learn how to operate modern weapons
Convoy Consisted of a group of unarmed ships surrounded by a ring of destroyers, torpedo boats, and other armed naval vessels equipped with hydrophones to track and destroy submarines
Why were convoys important to American war efforts? They enabled new recruits to be protected and safely transported to Europe
How did tanks overcome the obstacles of barbed wire, sandbags, and enemy guns? Tanks were able to roll right over these obstacles with their heavy, durable treads.
How did American soldiers contribute to the Allied counterattack? American soldiers drove Germans out of heavily defended positions in September of 1918 Later in September, American forces took part in an offensive that forced the German army to retreat
Zeppelin German floating air ship…or blimp Zeppelins took part in the German bombing of London
Armistice A Cease fire Germany agreed to a cease fire on November 11,1918 at 11am
Why did Germany agree to an armistice in November of 1918? The Central Powers were collapsing German soldiers realized that defeat was inevitable The German navy mutinied German workers went on a general strike
How did America’s losses in the war compare to Germany, France and Britain? The U.S. only lost about 50,000 soldiers to battle and a bunch more to disease Germany and France lose more than a million each British lose just under 90,000
How do you think these losses affect the way that people in these countries remember WWI? Millions are wounded An entire generation of people are missing fathers, brothers and sons Physical and psychological suffering Damage to land and buildings
How did new weapons change the way that soldiers fought during the war? Tanks allowed the Allies to break though German lines Aircraft were used to scout enemy positions, direct combat, drop bombs
Genocide The organized killing of an entire race of people The Ottoman Empire would do this to the Armenian people