Chapter 11 Section 2 Notes The U.S. in WWI

Before U.S. gets in Things don’t look good for Allies U-boats sinking many Ally ships England low on food and supplies Morale of Ally troops very low Tired and worn out

U.S. prepares for combat U.S. military in bad shape before entering crummy supplies outdated equipment few troops only about 200,000 total Not well trained This needs to change quickly

Selective Service Act of 1917 (May 18th) Required all men 18 - 45 to register for a draft. 24 million registered Used propaganda to sell the idea to citizens Songs, Art, Posters, Public Speakers, etc… Army rose in size to 3 million Most with no high school education Typical troop nickname = doughboy African – Americans were included in the army (not navy or marines) Segregated units Mostly noncombat

Women in WWI Not drafted volunteers All noncombat Nurses Some army Some volunteer Many worked in factories to make “war stuff”

Build up and Modernize the Navy Need ships to get troops and supplies across the Atlantic Ships getting sunk by u-boats. What to do? #1. Build more don’t draft shipbuilders #2. Promote importance of the job Used propaganda #3. Build parts for ships elsewhere Increased efficiency #4. Govt. took control of all U.S. ships Even if Privately owned Converted them for war use

Modernize equipment and supplies in the Army Tanks (provided protection, ran over barbed wire… only went 5 mph!) Long Range Artillery (sent shells long range… not always accurate) Machine Guns Up to 600 shots per minute Chemical warfare Poison Gas and Gas Masks Killed 90,000… wounded roughly 1 million

Develop the 1st Air Force Most planes originally designed for scouting Finding out position of the enemy Eventually, had guns, became fully enclosed Eddie Rickenbacker Most famous U.S. pilot Shot down the most German planes Battles in air referred to as “dog fights” By the end of WWI, planes travel longer distances drop damaging bombs War improves technology!

Most famous WWI pilot Baron Manfred von Richthofen (THE RED BARON) German Supposedly shot down 80 Allied planes before getting shot down Known for his red plane

Leaders for the Allies U.S. military led by General John Pershing (remember Mexico and Pancho Villa) Overall, Allies led by Marshal Foch (from France)

Overall Conditions of WWI Simply put: Not pretty Lice Polluted Water Disease Extreme temperatures “Shell Shock” Hard to describe… affected people differently… Clip on website

U.S. Military turns the tide at sea = 5 things helping to detect (primitive sonar) and destroy (depth charges) U-boats. Use airplanes to spot them near the coast Using mines to help England disrupt German shipping Protecting Allied shipping (convoy system)

on land U.S. troops were “fresh” and eager to fight Others had been fighting for several years They were the difference in numerous battles

The Central Powers collapse 3 Main Reasons outnumbered and out supplied by the Allies A revolution in Germany Soldiers and sailors refused to fight anymore The leader (Wilhelm II) had to give up his throne A massive flu epidemic affected U.S. troops too, but in smaller #’s. Better access to medicine Estimates suggest 30 million people around the world died!

The end of WWI Armistice signed November, 1918 1.5 years after we enter the war 22 million war deaths (110,000 U.S) Does not include disease or flu deaths 20 million wounded (200,000 U.S.) NY celebrates