1. Americans join the Allies

2. France and England desperately need supplies from the Americas. They also needed American troops to help fight. US navy had a 2 step plan to help get supplies to Allies. First, US navy helped British ships find and destroy German U-boats. Second, they sent convoys (teams) of navy destroyers to helped merchant ships deliver the supplies.

3. Russia leaves War Russia was going through a revolution. A communist group, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, wanted to overthrow the democratic government in Russia. The Bolsheviks took over and signed Treaty of Brest- Litovsk with Germany to get out of the war. In this treaty they gave Poland and the Ukraine to Germany. This freed up the German army on the Eastern Front, so they could concentrate on the Western Front.

4. War at Home US needed to get ready for war. Mobilization (gathering of resources in preparation of war) affected everyone. Factories had to produce more and government discourages worker’s strikes to help production. Many women joined the work force to help out. Liberty Bonds were sold to raise money. America needed to produce more food to feed American and allied troops. US government asked for volunteer rationing of supplies so they could be sent to Europe.

5. Great Migration Due to the desperate need for workers in the factories up north, many African Americans left the south to move north to seek employment. This mass movement was known as the Great Migration

6. Controlling American Public Opinion There were German sympathizers in America. Many socialist did not believe that privately owned business should make money off they war and thought business and factories should be publicly owned. Others didn’t believe in the war at all and they were called pacifist.

7. Government Acts Government responded to these issues with the following acts: Espionage Act- provided stiff penalties for spying, espionage or aiding the enemy. Sabotage Act and Sedition Act which made it a crime to say, print or write anything negative about the government.

8. Anti-German Feelings People became suspicious of German Americans and banned many German related things. Changed German names to American names, i.e. liberty cabbage for sauerkraut

9. American Troops Fight Many American were sent to fight in Europe. The troops were called the American Expeditionary Force. They were led by John J. Pershing. American soldiers were also known as Doughboys. US saw first fight in June 1918 at Chateau-Thierry, east of Paris. Along with French and British troops, they were successful in pushing back the Germans.

10. American Troops Fight They went on the offensive. First major battle was Battle of Argonne Forest, where they pushed the Germans so far back; Germany was in danger of being invaded.

11. End of War Germany realized they were close to defeat. They asked for an armistice (an agreement to end fighting). Wilson agreed, with conditions. Kaiser (emperor) Wilhelm II was overthrown and a new republican government established. The new government of German agreed to these terms.