Americans On The European Front

The United States Slowly Gets Involved The U.S. at first wanted to be and associate in the war –Naval support –Supplies –Arms –No troops –Allies insist that U.S. send troops

The United States Slowly Gets Involved 1917 U.S. sends John J. “Black Jack” Pershing with 14,500 men (This is not enough) Congress passes the Selective Service Act AEF – American Expeditionary Force –Draftees, national guardsmen and volunteers make up the AEF –AEF also included women Worked as nurses, drivers, clerks and telephone operators Also worked for government and private agencies tied to the war effort

How To Move Men and Supplies Convoy system –Use quick destroyers to escort ships to Europe –Destroyers were fast enough to mount a counter attack on U-boats

American Soldiers in Europe Discrimination –Separation between the American troops and allied troops –Black Troops were separated from white troops

American Soldiers in Europe Since Russia is out of the war Germans are fighting a one front war Americans help stop Germans from taking Paris –This turns the tide of the war

American Soldiers in Europe Allied counterattack –July 1918 allied counter offensive starts –August 8, 1918, Battle of Amiens, the allies stop German advance for good

Armistice September 26, 1918 –Allies push Germany out of France –Allies cut German supply lines November 11, 1918, armistice or a cease- fire was established

The War’s Toll 50,000 Americans die in battle and more from disease 1 million French soldiers die 4,000 French towns destroyed 900,000 British soldiers die 20 million European civilians die Many more wounded