AMERICAN POWER TIPS THE BALANCE The United States mobilized a large army and navy to help the Allies achieve victory.

America Mobilizes Selective Service Act- May 1917, required men to register with the government in order to randomly be selected for military service Selective Service Act- May 1917, required men to register with the government in order to randomly be selected for military service 24 million registered under the act 24 million registered under the act 400,000 African Americans served, more than half served in France and were in segregated units 400,000 African Americans served, more than half served in France and were in segregated units Women served in the Army Corps of Nurses Women served in the Army Corps of Nurses Government made mass production a priority Government made mass production a priority

AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE Convoy System-heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups Convoy System-heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups Americans provided freshness and enthusiasm to the Allied forces Americans provided freshness and enthusiasm to the Allied forces American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by General John J. Pershing American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by General John J. Pershing Doughboys (American Infantry Men)-possibly b/c of the white belts they wore which they cleaned with pipe clay or “dough” Doughboys (American Infantry Men)-possibly b/c of the white belts they wore which they cleaned with pipe clay or “dough”

Fighting “Over There” New weapons: machine gun, tank, airplane New weapons: machine gun, tank, airplane Planes began to mount machine guns and load with bombs Planes began to mount machine guns and load with bombs Poison gas masks became a standard issue Poison gas masks became a standard issue New weapons led to horrific injuries: dysentery due to filth, “shell shock”, trench foot, and trench mouth New weapons led to horrific injuries: dysentery due to filth, “shell shock”, trench foot, and trench mouth Red cross helped carry wounded from the battlefield to the hospital Red cross helped carry wounded from the battlefield to the hospital

American Troops Go on the Offensive Americans helped turn the tide of war, stopped the German advancement Americans helped turn the tide of war, stopped the German advancement Alvin York/American war hero Alvin York/American war hero Nov Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies Nov Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies Germans were too exhausted to continue fighting, 11 th hour, 11 th day, 11 th month of 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire or armistice Germans were too exhausted to continue fighting, 11 th hour, 11 th day, 11 th month of 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire or armistice

THE FINAL TOLL 22 million dead, more than half were civilians 22 million dead, more than half were civilians 20 million wounded 20 million wounded 10 million became refugees 10 million became refugees Cost=$338 billion Cost=$338 billion US lost 48,000 in battle; 62,000 died of disease, 200,000 wounded US lost 48,000 in battle; 62,000 died of disease, 200,000 wounded