American Power Tips the Balance

America Mobilizes U.S. was not prepared for war, but they needed to build an army to make an impact in Europe. 200k men were in service and few officers had combat experience.

Raising an Army Selective Service Act in May 1917 - Required men to register with government in order to be randomly selected for military service. - 24 million registered, 3 million were called up - 400k African Americans served in the armed forces - Segregated units, excluded from navy and marines - Assigned to noncombat duties Women were not allowed to enlist in the army but were accepted in the Army Corps of Nurses. - Received no pay, army rank, or benefits - Served as nurses, secretaries, or telephone operators.

Mass Production The U.S. government expanded their fleet by taking 4 steps: 1. Government discharged shipyard workers from the draft which delayed their participation in the draft. 2. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined in a public relations campaign to emphasize the importance of shipyard work and urged automobile owners to give shipyard employees rides to and from work, since streetcars were so crowded. 3. Shipyards used prefabrication techniques. - Standardized parts were built somewhere else and then pieced together at the yard. (This method decreased construction time) 4. Fourth, the government took over cargo and private ships and converted them for transatlantic war use.

America Turns the Tide Merchant ships were constantly attacked by German U-Boats in the Atlantic. Convoy system: A heavy guard of destroyer ships that escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups. Using this system, shipping losses had been cut in half by the fall of 1917. U.S. Navy helped by laying a 230-mile barrier of mines across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway. - The barrier was designed to bottle up the U-boats that pass to keep them out of the Atlantic.

American Expedition Force Led by General John J. Pershing Men from all over the country joined. - Dough boys

New Weapons Tanks and Airplanes = Mechanized warfare - Mechanized warfare - Warfare that relies on machines powered by gasoline and diesel engines. Tanks runs on caterpillar treads and were made of steel. - Run over barbed wire defenses clearing a path for infantry. Airplanes – Air battles had to be done with pistols, and they later added machine guns. - Dog fights – Individual air combats - They travel faster and carry heavy bomb loads.

War Introduces New Hazards Men were constantly surrounded by filth, lice, rats, and polluted water which caused: -Inhaling poisonous gas, death of decaying bodies -Lack of sleep -Battle fatigue, “shell shock”: A complete emotional collapse -Trench foot: Standing in cold, wet trench without changing socks or boots. Red Cross helped out soldiers

American Troops Go Offensive Russia pulls out of war in 1917. Germans shift west Americans arrived to stop them. (In July and August) They win the 2nd battle at Marne.

The Collapse of Germany Austria surrenders in 1918. German soldiers spread mutiny. German Republic established. German to exhausted to continue. 11 hour, 11 day, in 11 months, Germany signs the Armistice (truth) that ended the war.

The Final Toll The bloodiest war in history up until that time. - 22 million deaths (More than half civilian) - 20 million people wounded - 10 million became refugees Economic cost was $338 million The U.S: - lost 48,000 men - 62,000 died of diseases - more than 200,000 were wounded

Tank and Machine Gun

Plane and U-Boat