11 sec. 2

America Goes to War

America’s Army

Non existent 200,000 men in service No combat service Weapons were out of date Selective Service Act - Men aged 18-45 had

to register, 24 million registered, 3 million were picked by lottery

Training the Army

Nine Month Period Used rocks instead of hand grenades,

wooden poles instead of rifles

Building Bridge to France

Needed to build ships Ship builders were exempted from service in

the army

German Uboat

Convoy System

Merchant vessels carrying supplies were guarded by cruisers and destroyers

Convoy System

Americans in Europe

Added Freshness and enthusiasm Were courageous Commanded by General John J. Pershing

War in Europe

Russia was defeated by Central Powers Germans moved all troops to Western Front Launched new offensive at Paris in May of

1918 Americans turned the tide by winning the

second battle of the Marne, and the Meuse Argonne

By October, the tide had been turned

American Heroes

Alvin York - Formerly a conscientious objector - sharpshooter killed 25 Germans and captured 132 with help

Became a celebrity Eddie Rickenbacker - shot down 26 enemy

planes - formerly a race car driver - defeated one squadron commanded by Red Baron

Black Jack Pershing - former Indian fighter commanded all of American forces

American Heroes

Major Charles Whittlesey - hero of Lost Battalion

New Weapons

Big Bertha Zeppelin Machine Guns Chemical Weapons - chlorine and mustard

gas Tank Airplane

Zeppelins

Medical Care

Doctors named Sawbones because of so many amputations

Trench foot was one of worst problems

Trench Jaw

Collapse of Germany

German Navy mutinied Mutiny spread Kaiser abdicated and fled to the Netherlands Warring parties signed an armistice on

November 11th at 11 am. When war ended Germany occupied part of

France and most of Belgium. 20% of Russia

Notequiz

True or False1. America had a large army prior to WWI2. American troops sometimes trained with rocks instead of hand grenades

and poles instead of riflesFill in the Blanks3. America moved its supplies and men to this country4. What was the name of the draft conducted by America5. He was a former conscientious objector who killed 25 Germans and

captured 1326. He was America’s ace pilot7. What did the Germans use as weapons that resemble modern day

blimps?8. What was one of the worst medical problems during WWI?9. Who did Germany beat that made the war a one-front war?10. When was the armistice signed that ended the war?