Wilson’s War Address 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.” How does Wilson justify US involvement? Relate to Wilson..?

America in WWI

Just as US entering Russia is leaving… Why is this significant??

The USA in WWI

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” "The Americans are multiplying in a way we never dreamt of." Supported offensives by Allied Powers Second Battle of the Marne 100 days campaign June 1917 14,000 by May 1918 1 million The German Spring Offensives on the Western Front, which began on 21 March 1918 with Operation Michael, had petered out by July. The Germans had advanced to the Marne river but failed to achieve a decisive breakthrough. When Operation Marne-Rheims ended in July, the Allied supreme commander, the French Ferdinand Foch, ordered a counter-offensive which became the Second Battle of the Marne. The Germans, recognising their untenable position, withdrew from the Marne towards the north. For this victory, Foch was granted the title Marshal of France. Foch considered the time had arrived for the Allies to return to the offensive. The American Expeditionary Force was now present in France in large numbers, and their presence invigorated the Allied armies.[7]:472 General John J. Pershing, was keen to use his army in an independent role. The British Army had also been reinforced by large numbers of troops returned from the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and Italy and large numbers of replacements previously held back in Britain by the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.[7]:155 Through October, the German armies retreated through the territory gained in 1914 – 100 days campaign series allied victories

The Selective Service Act 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 ONLY 32,000 volunteered after war declaration Army less than 200,000 The Selective Service Act of 1917 (P.L. 65-12, 40 Stat. 76) was the first act mandating American military service since the Civil War. In April 1917, before the act's passage, there were only 110,000 servicemen who could be deployed if America joined the war then raging in Europe. An army of this size would have been destroyed within months considering the brutal trench warfare employed during the Great War. All told, there were 116,516 American casualties in World War I—more than were in the service at the time war was declared. All males aged twenty-one to thirty were required to register at local polling stations. The age limits were later changed to include all men from ages eighteen to forty-five. The drafts carried out during World War I led to the successful registration of almost 24 million American men. Because of a concerted effort to invoke a sense of patriotism in all Americans, the U.S. enlisted many to fight against the Axis powers. Less than 350,000 men "dodged" the World War I draft.

America’s Role in WWI The Atlantic The Convoy System All merchant ships escorted by armed destroyers mines across North Sea Germans could not keep up with losses to U-boats, no longer destroying as much British cargo Previously, merchant ships sailed individually, which meant it was impossible for the British navy to protect them from direct attack. It also made them easy targets for U-boats. Once a u-boat sighted a merchant ship, it could surface and destroy the defenceless vessel with gunfire,saving torpedoes, and thus stay at sea longer. Under the convoy system, a large number of ships would gather in port, then all sail at the same time and at the same speed. This meant the British navy could provide warships to escort them, making it harder for u-boats to launch successful attacks. Firstly, the u-boats had to use torpedoes to attack convoys - if they surfaced and tried to use gunfire, the escorting warships with more and bigger guns would destroy them. Once all their torpedoes were gone, u-boats had to return to base to pick up more. So, u-boats couldn't stay at sea so long. Secondly, even a torpedo attack alerted the escorts to their presence, so u-boats now ran the risk of being sunk themselves when attacking convoy ships.U-boat losses rose, meaning their were less u-boats available for attacking merchant shipping. Finally, the convoy system made it much harder for u-boats to actually find targets to attack. When ships sailed individually, they tended to stick to known shipping routes and there were always at least some ships at sea, so a u-boat could cruise around and was almost guaranteed to find a target every so often.Under the convoy system, all the ships were in one place at one time - if the u-boat wasn't in exactly the right place at the right time, it wouldn't find anything to attack. Even if it was, it had to worry about being sunk by the warships escorting the convoy. The convoy system was highly successful, and significantly reduced Allied merchant shipping losses after it was introduced. On 14 April, he cabled Washington his recommendations that the maximum number of American destroyers be made available at once. Sims argued that the timely arrival of even a modest number at this critical moment of the war might exert some strategic leverage, given the fact that it would take time for the United States to mobilize sufficient military resources to have any impact on the war. The destroyers could work out of Queenstown, on the southern coast of Ireland, with an additional advanced base at Berehaven (Bantry Bay). Sims recommended that the destroyers be accompanied by other antisubmarine craft, support and repair ships, and the staff to man the bases. Usa sent 6 destroyers had 51

The War Ends 11/11/1918 – Cease Fire – War Over The Last Straws Central Powers tired Failed German Offensive Successful Allied Offensives -New American Blood, No New Central Soldiers German naval strategy no longer as effective German navy revolt Population done After navy revolt – kaiser fled to holland – war essentaill yover The combatant nations rejected all the peace initiatives that were proposed in 1917. As the months passed, however, people on both sides of the conflict began to question the violence and massive slaughter. People everywhere sought ways to cope with, if not escape, the environment of war. Russian front line soldiers grew increasingly disillusioned and apathetic. Many refused to obey orders, retreating when commanded to advance; they deserted the military and engage in open rebellion and mass mutiny. In France, a failed offensive in the spring of 1917 resulted in a mutiny not against the war but against the way it was waged by the general staff.  

Expanding the power of the national government War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Food Administration – Herbert Hoover Railroad Administration – William McAdoo National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh Power gov expanded - Wilson direct control over much of economy Fix prices, regulate/even nationalize certain war related industries War Industries Board – 1917 (reorganized 1918 under Bernard M. Barch) Mass production techniques to increase efficiency Eliminate waste – standardize production – make 5 colors not 150 Set productions and quotas Production increased 20% Retail prices soared (only price control at wholesale level) – double before war Unemployment virtually disappeared. Expansion of “big government.” Excessive govt. regulations in eco. Some gross mismanagement  overlapping jurisdictions. Close cooperation between public and private sectors. Unprecedented opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Selling the war Committee on Public Information (CPI) Speeches movie reels newspaper articles posters Wilson picked George Creel, a muckraking journalist from Missouri, to head the organization. Under Creel's leadership, the CPI carried out activities designed to stir America's fervor for war. The Four-Minute Men, one of Creel's most successful creations, was a volunteer group of thousands of men who visited meetings and movie theaters across the country to make pro-war speeches

The aftermath 9 million killed 4 empires collapsed 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 rattle Can 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 eyes Shall 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 9 million killed 4 empires collapsed France, Belgium and Russia devastated by fighting England bombed

New opportunities for women & african americans True sons of freedom Women in Army Corp of Nurses, no rank, pay or benefits; 13,000 noncombat in navy and marines nurses, secretaries, phone operators with rank