Learning Goals The students will understand the contributions that Oklahomans made in World War I.

Oklahomans and WWI

Crowds gather to see soldiers off to war during World War I.

Oklahoman’s in WWI The first military units called from Oklahoma to serve a national cause were Oklahoma Territory’s Troop D and Troops L and M from Indian Territory. These men served in the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood and Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Oklahoman’s in WWI After statehood, the Territorial Guard became the Oklahoma National Guard, and guardsmen were called to active duty in 1916 to serve under General John J. Pershing to protect the U.S.-Mexican border.

Oklahoman’s in WWI Those who served in Mexico returned home just in time for World War I. Oklahoma’s guardsmen shipped out with the 36th Infantry, the 42nd Infantry (known as the Rainbow Division), and the 90th Infantry Division (also called the Texas-Oklahoma Division).

WWI cont. The first Oklahomans to arrive in France were those in the 36th Infantry Division.

When the war ended on November 11, 1918 — at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month — 90,527 Oklahomans, including 5,000 African-Americans, had served their country’s cause. Of these, 4,154 were wounded in battle, 502 were missing in action, 1,064 were killed, and 502 died of disease.

Oklahoman’s in WWI While the men were away fighting the war, the women were at home running things. They worked in munitions factories, in stores, on streetcars and on railroads. Women’s suffrage, or voting rights, became an issue. In 1918, at the close of the war, Oklahoma voters passed a state constitutional amendment giving Oklahoma’s women the right to vote, two years before the national amendment was adopted.

Chapter 17 Section 2 Quiz 1.) Who was the main enemy in WWI? A.) Germany B.) France C.) Russia 2.) Name the infantry in which the Oklahoma Guardsmen were shipped out with. A.) 19th B.) 42nd C.) 21st 3.) In which division were the first Oklahomans to arrive in France a part of. A.) 18th B.) 21st C.) 36th 4.) What was WWI originally called? A.) The Living Room War B.) The Great War C.) The Independence War 5.) When did WWI end? 6.) Give the current day name of the Holiday that resulted from WWI. A.) Patriot Day B.) Veteran’s Day C.) Memorial Day 7.) Describe the types of positions African Americans were mostly given in WWI. A.) Mostly front line B.) Mostly managerial C.) Most were officers 8.) What was the name of the plan Germany had to take over Europe? A.) WWI plan B.) The Warsaw Plan C.) The Schlieffen Plan 9.) How many Oklahomans served in WWI? A.) About 90,000 B.) About 1 million C.) About 9000 10.) Describe Women’s suffrage in Oklahoma and compare it to Women’s suffrage nationally during this period. A.) Women were able to vote nationally before they could vote in Oklahoma B.) Women were not allowed to vote until the late 1970’s C.) Women were allowed to vote in Oklahoma before they could nationally.

Chapter 17 Section 2 Quiz 1.) Who was the main enemy in WWI? 2.) Name the infantry in which the Oklahoma Guardsmen were shipped out with. 3.) In which division were the first Oklahomans to arrive in France a part of 4.) What was WWI originally called? 5.) When did WWI end? 6.) Give the original name and the current day name of the Holiday that resulted from WWI. 7.) Describe the types of positions African Americans were mostly given in WWI. 8.) What was the name of the plan Germany had to take over Europe? 9.) How many Oklahomans served in WWI? 10.) Describe Women’s suffrage in Oklahoma and compare it to Women’s suffrage nationally during this period.