American Power Tips the Balance

Objectives Describe how the United States mobilized for war Summarize U.S. battlefield successes Identify the new weapons and the medical problems faced in World War I Describe the end of the war

Only 200,000 men were in service at the start of the war America Mobilizes Raising an Army Only 200,000 men were in service at the start of the war Required all men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service Selective Service Act

America Mobilizes Army Corps of Nurses Nurses Secretaries Raising an Army (cont.) 24 million register 3 million called up 1,500,000 see combat 400,000 African Americans serve Most non combat and in segregated units 369th – most continuous front line duty 2 million reach Europe Women are not allowed to enlist Army Corps of Nurses No rank No pay or benefits ~13,000 women accept noncombat positions Nurses Secretaries Telephone operators

America Mobilizes Shipyard workers Mass Production Service flags “deferred” classification Shipyard workers Importance of shipyards Service flags Fabrication techniques Built standardized parts Took over private and commercial ships Converted them for transatlantic war use

America Turns the Tide Allies had fought hard and long for 2 ½ years Fighting in Europe Convoy System Heavy guard of destroyers escort merchant ships back and forth U.S. Navy helped lay mines in the North Sea from Scotland to Norway Allies had fought hard and long for 2 ½ years American are fresh and eager More than men, they bring enthusiasm

Fighting “Over There” American Expeditionary Force New Weapons American Expeditionary Force doughboys General John J. “Blackjack” Pershing Machine Gun Tank Caterpillar track Steal Airplane Early scouting Dog fighting bombing Mechanized Warfare

The War Introduces New Hazards Filthy condition Lice Rats Polluted water Dysentery Poison gas Lack of sleep “shell shock” Trench foot Toes would turn red or blue Numbness Rot Amputation

American Troops Go on the Offensive American War Hero The Collapse of Germany Alvin York Conscientious objector “thou shall not kill” Killed 25 Captured 132 Nov. 3, 1918 Austria-Hungary surrenders Same day there is a mutiny all through the German navy Groups of soldiers and workers organize revolutionary councils Armistice

American Troops Go on the Offensive The Final Toll To that time, bloodiest war in history 22,000,000 dead ½ of those civilians 10,000,000 refugees $338,000,000,000 American losses 48,000 killed 62,000 died of disease 200,000 wounded

How did the United States raise an army during World War I How did the United States raise an army during World War I? How did the United States increase ship production? What was the significance of the convoy system? How did the arrival of new American troops affect the spirit of Allied troops?

Who led the American Troops in Europe Who led the American Troops in Europe? What new weapons were used during World War I? How did medical services respond to the physical and emotional wounds suffered by the soldiers?

What caused the collapse of Germany What caused the collapse of Germany? How many people died during World War I?