America Joins the Fight World War I (1914-1918) Chapter 24, Section 2
Essential Questions: Do governments have the right to draft its’ citizens? Why or Why Not? As a citizen, are YOU responsible to serve YOUR country?
The U.S. Army (1917) When America Entered WWI the US Army Had Less Than 200,000 Troops President Woodrow Wilson Wanted to Use Volunteer Troops Not Enough Troops Enlisted After U.S. Declared War in 1917
Which Poster is More Effective? Why?
Selective Service Act (1917) Required ALL Males Between the Ages of 21 and 30 to Join the U.S. Military The Draft!!! 3 Million Men Were Drafted by 1918 Army Went from 200,000 to 3 Million Soldiers!
American Expeditionary Force (The AEF) AEF = U.S.Armed Forces Sent to Europe During WWI 2 Million AEF Troops Served Under General John J. Pershing in France Helped Win WWI!!!
John J. Pershing General of the AEF British and French Forces Asked the U.S. to Join their Armies Woodrow Wilson and Pershing REFUSED! WHY?
Woodrow Wilson President Wilson Did NOT Want the AEF to Fight With the Allied Forces Wanted U.S. Forces to Fight Separately Wilson Wanted U.S. to be the Hero and Play a Major Role at the Peace Table at the End of WWI
Women’s Roles During WWI Close to 50,000 Women Served in World War I: American Red Cross Clerical Workers in the Navy Marine Corps & Army Nurses Interpreters Switchboard Operators Entertained Troops Drove Ambulances
African Americans Serve 400,000 African American Men Served During WWI Faced Racial Discrimination from White American Soldiers (Not European Soldiers) U.S. Created Segregated Combat Units for African Americans (Plessy vs. Ferguson 1896)
The U.S. Convoy System German U-Boats Were Sinking Supply & Troop Ships Across the Atlantic Ocean! Convoy System: A Heavy Guard of Destroyers Escorted Merchant Ships Across the Atlantic in Groups Hut, Hut, Hike! Handoff the Football and Follow Your Blockers!
Other Military Tactics To Protect From German U-Boats, the U.S. Laid 70,000 Mines in the North Sea Minefield Was Over 180 Miles Long Used Magnetic and Contact Mines FINDING NEMO!!!
Finding Nemo Mine Scene!!!
By the Way….. Found Nemo!
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Ended War Between Central Powers and Russia! When Russians Dropped Out of the War, Germany Sent Troops to Invade France in the West Wanted to Win the War Before U.S. Arrived!
The German Plan
Germans Push For France Germans Launch an Attack to End WWI Before American Troops Arrive Germany Gets to the Marne River (Again) (50 Miles Away from Paris) 1 Million American Troops Aid French and British Forces to STOP the German Advance!
America Arrives May 28th, 1918 the AEF Liberates the Town of Cantigny, France (Lifts Allies Morale!) AEF and French Forces STOP German Attack on the Town of Chateau-Thierry, France Battle of Belleau Wood: American and French Forces Go on the Attack! Retake Land (Forest) in France That Germany Had Taken
Battle of Belleau Wood
2nd Battle of the Marne River Germans Attacked for 3 Days Attempting to Take Paris The Allies & Americans STOPPED the Attack! Allies Started to Push the Germans Back! Why Was the 2nd Battle of the Marne the Turning Point of WWI?
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive The Final “Push” 1918 Goal Was to Push German Forces BACK into Germany! 1.2 Million Allied Soldiers Fought After Months of Fighting, Germany Lost All Land it Had Gained!
Meuse Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Cemetery
26,000+ U.S. Soldiers Killed in the Meuse Argonne Offensive
WWI American Heroes Alvin York: Eddie Rickenbacker: Attempted to Avoid the Draft Refused to Bear Arms (Religion) Attacked and Killed 25 German Machine Gunners 132 Germans Surrendered to this 1 Man in the Trenches! Eddie Rickenbacker: U.S. Pilot Who Shot Down 26 Enemy Planes Awarded the Medal of Honor
Alvin York’s Grave
African American Heroes 4 African American Combat Units Received Recognition: 369th, 370th, 371st, 372nd Regiments Awarded France’s Highest Honor: The Croix de Guerre 369th Regiment Spent More Time on the Front Lines Than ANY Other US Unit What Awards Did the U.S. Give Them???
Reasons Why Germany Surrenders! Lost the Meuse Argonne Offensive (Didn’t Want the Allies to Keep Going & Take Over Germany!) Germany’s Navy Mutinied (Refused to Fight Any More) The Central Powers Dropped Out (Didn’t Want to Lose Land) Germany’s Kaiser (Leader) Resigned
Armistice Comes From Latin: Arma = Weapons Statium = Stopping Warring Countries Agreed to STOP Fighting Armistice Was Signed on November 11th, 1918 @ 11:00AM 11th Hour 11th Day 11th Month WWI Was OVER!
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
World War I Deaths 8.5 Million People Died During WWI (1914-1918) Approximately 21 Million Were Wounded Worst Death Totals/War in the History of the World (Until WW2)
World War I Casualties
WWI Casualties Most Casualties: Germany (1.8 Million) Russia (1.7 Million) Least Casualties: US (116,000) Why is That???
Essential Questions: Do governments have the right to draft its’ citizens? Why or Why Not? As a citizen, are YOU responsible to serve YOUR country?