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AMERICA IN WWI
• By April 2, 1917, “we are glad … to fight…for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples…The world must be made safe for democracy…the right is more precious than peace.”
WILSON “KEPT US OUT OF WAR” IN 1916
• ONLY 32,000 volunteered after war declaration– Army less than 200,000
• Selective Service Act, May 1917– Required men to register with the
government– Randomly selected for service– 21-30 then 18-45– 24 million registered– Cannot buy a replacement – ~23 million called up, 2 million went
to Europe, 1.5 million saw combat
THE AMERICAN MILITARY
War Industries Board – Bernard BaruchFood Administration – Herbert HooverRailroad Administration – William McAdooNational War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh
EXPANDING THE POWER OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
• Committee on Public Information (CPI)– Speeches– movie reels– newspaper articles– posters
SELLING THE WAR
True sons of freedom
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN & AFRICAN AMERICANS
• British on the verge of starving from the U-boat attacks
• The Convoy System– All merchant ships escorted
by armed destroyers
• mines across North Sea to destroy U-boats
• Germans could not keep up with losses to U-boats, no longer destroying as much British cargo
AMERICA’S ROLE IN WWI
American Expeditionary Force led by General John Pershing (remember him?)– Doughboys , nickname
American soldiers
Doughboys Role in WWI• Allied powers were exhausted• American soldiers were “new
blood”• Supported offensives by Allied
Powers
AMERICA’S ROLE IN WWI
11/11/1918 – Cease Fire – War Over
The Last Straws Central Powers tiredFailed German OffensiveSuccessful Allied Offensives-New American Blood, No New Central SoldiersGerman naval strategy no longer as effectiveGerman navy revolt Population done
THE WAR ENDS
• 9 million killed • 4 empires collapsed • France, Belgium and Russia
devastated by fighting
THE AFTERMATH
Anthem for Doomed Youth – Wilfred Own What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?Only the monstrous anger of the guns.Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattleCan patter out their hasty orisons.No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;And bugles calling for them from sad shires.What candles may be held to speed them all?Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyesShall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;Their flowers the tenderness of silent maids,And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds