Chapter 11: The First World War Section 2: American Power Tips the Balance Pages: 381-387

America Mobilizes Pages: 381-383

America Mobilizes Raising an Army Selective Service Act Begins in May of 1917 Required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service

America Mobilizes Raising an Army 400,000 African-Americans served in the armed forces Served in segregated units and were excluded from Marines and Navy Most African-Americans were assigned to noncombat duties

America Mobilizes Raising an Army 369th Infantry All black Saw more continuous duty on the front lines than any other American Regiment

America Mobilizes Raising an Army Women Army reluctantly accepted women in the Army corps of Nurses Most women served as nurses, secretaries, and telephone operators, with full military rank

America Mobilizes MASS PRODUCTION Expand Fleet of ships US GOV took 4 Steps Exempted Shipyard workers from the draft US Chamber Of Commerce joined public relations emphasize importance of shipyard work

America Mobilizes MASS PRODUCTION Expand Fleet of ships US GOV took 4 Steps 3. Fabrication Technique – parts built somewhere different than where the ship was assembled 4. Government took over commercial and private ships and converted them for war

AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE PAGE: 383

AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE Problem: German U-Boats attacking merchant ships Solution: Convoy System (Vice Admiral William S. Sims) Convoy System: Destroyers escort merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean in groups Use a 230-mile barrier of mines across the North Sea from Scotland to Norway

AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE FIGHTING IN EUROPE: After 2 years of fighting Allied Forces become exhausted American troops bring freshness and enthusiasm

FIGHTING OVER THERE PAGES: 384-385

FIGHTING OVER THERE Soldiers came from separated parts of the country. Most soldiers never ventured far from the farms or small towns, and when got to Paris were in awe

NEW WEAPONS Tank Airplane At first used for scouting Dogfights – air combat – pilots sit in cockpits and shoot each other with pistols Next, started to carry mounted machine guns Planes loaded bombs Observation Balloons -

THE WAR INTRODUCES NEW HAZARDS PAGE: 385

War Introduces New Hazards WWI led to horrific injuries and hazards Filth, lice, rats, and polluted water caused dysentery Poison Gas Stench of decaying bodies Lack of Sleep Constant bombardments – led to battle fatigue and “shell shock” Shell shock is an emotional collapse

War Introduces New Hazards Trench Foot: caused by standing in cold wet trenches for long periods of time without dry socks or boots – amputate toes or whole foot Trench Mouth – painful infection of gums and throat

American Troops go on the Offensive Pages: 386-387

American Troops go on the Offensive American War Hero Alvin York Was a conscientious objector to the war (Bible says “thou shall not kill) Later became known as a war hero

American Troops go on the Offensive THE COLLAPSE OF GERMANY 1918 Germany signs armistice – or truce, that ended the war Germans were exhausted

THE FINAL TOLL 22 Million Dead; Half were civilians War Cost a total of $338 Billion United States Lost 48,000 men in battle; 62,000 dying of disease; more than 200,000 Americans wounded

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