1. The US Enters The Great War

2. Selective Service Act of 1917 Required all men between 21 and 30 to register for the draft Candidates were drafted through a lottery system and then either accepted or rejected for service by a local draft board About 2.8 million Americans were drafted while another 2 million volunteered

3. African-American Troops Nearly 400,000 blacks were drafted to serve overseas Had to serve in segregated units under white officers, faced racial discrimination Still, many, such as the “Harlem Hell Fighters,” served with distinction, winning medals

4. The War Industries Board Created in July 1917 Run by former stockbroker Bernard Baruch Tasked with efficiently managing US industry in the manufacture of war materials Controlled what products were made in US factories

5. Food Administration Run by Herbert Hoover Responsible for increasing food production and reducing food consumption Encouraged families to grow their own food in “victory gardens” and to observe “Wheatless Mondays” & “Meatless Tuesdays”

6. Fuel Administration Run by Harry Garfield To conserve fuel, Daylight Savings Time was created and Americans were asked to observe Heatless Mondays Factories not making war materials had their workweeks shortened

7. Paying for the War US spent $32 billion on the war Congress raised income taxes and created new taxes on corporations US also borrowed $20 billion from American citizens through the sale of Liberty Bonds or Victory Bonds

8. US Troops Arrive in Europe The “doughboys” (nickname of unknown origin for US soldiers) of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrived in France in July 1917 Commanded by General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing

9. Trench warfare Armies had dug a network of trenches (deep protective ditches) along the Western Front in which soldiers lived worked and fought Living conditions were poor, many soldiers suffered from diseases such as trenchfoot

10. Trench Foot

11. “No Man’s Land” The devastated area between the opposing armies’ trench lines where everything had been destroyed The devastated area between the opposing armies’ trench lines where everything had been destroyed Soldiers would come out of the trenches and race toward the enemy while fully exposed to enemy fire Soldiers would come out of the trenches and race toward the enemy while fully exposed to enemy fire

12. New Weapons

13. 1. Machine Guns

14. 2. Artillery

15. 3. Poison gas Germans introduced the use of chemical gasses as weapons These gasses could burn the skin, blind, or destroy the lungs if breathed in Fortunately, gas masks and rubber chemical suits offered some protection

18. 4. Tanks

19. 5. Airplanes

20. 6. U-boats (submarines)

21. 7. Hand Grenades

22. 8. Land Mines

23. Russia Pulls Out of the War Two revolutions in Russia in 1917 (the first one democratic, the second one communist) ousted Czar Nicholas II Two revolutions in Russia in 1917 (the first one democratic, the second one communist) ousted Czar Nicholas II The new Russian government negotiated a separate peace with Germany and withdrew Russia from the conflict, closing the Eastern Front The new Russian government negotiated a separate peace with Germany and withdrew Russia from the conflict, closing the Eastern Front

24. American Victories Summer 1918: US forces successfully defended Paris from a German attack Summer 1918: US forces successfully defended Paris from a German attack Fall 1918: US forces began the Battle of Argonne Forest, which would eventually shatter Germany’s fighting abilities Fall 1918: US forces began the Battle of Argonne Forest, which would eventually shatter Germany’s fighting abilities

25. The War Ends Revolt broke out in Austria and the Ottomans surrendered to the Triple Entente, leaving Germany alone to fight Revolt broke out in Austria and the Ottomans surrendered to the Triple Entente, leaving Germany alone to fight After a mutiny broke out in the German navy and the people of Berlin erupted in riots over food shortages in Nov. 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down as Germany’s leader, clearing the way for an armistice After a mutiny broke out in the German navy and the people of Berlin erupted in riots over food shortages in Nov. 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down as Germany’s leader, clearing the way for an armistice

26. WWI ended at 11 AM, Nov. 11, 1918

27. Wilson’s Fourteen Points Pres. Wilson presented his plan for resolving the war; his plan sought to restabilize Europe and resolve the root problems that had started WWI to begin with Pres. Wilson presented his plan for resolving the war; his plan sought to restabilize Europe and resolve the root problems that had started WWI to begin with Britain and France rejected Wilson’s plan in favor of punishing Germany with harsh reparations (fines) Britain and France rejected Wilson’s plan in favor of punishing Germany with harsh reparations (fines)

28. Points 1 - 5 Ban secret alliances Ban secret alliances Respect freedom of the seas Respect freedom of the seas Remove all barriers to trade (tariffs) Remove all barriers to trade (tariffs) Everyone reduce the size of their military Everyone reduce the size of their military Stop colonization, respect the rights of native peoples Stop colonization, respect the rights of native peoples

29. Points 6 - 13 Specified the creation of new states in Europe (such as Poland) and redrew the boundaries of Europe Specified the creation of new states in Europe (such as Poland) and redrew the boundaries of Europe Also promoted self- determination for various European ethnic states Also promoted self- determination for various European ethnic states

30. Point 14: The League of Nations Create a “League of Nations” to help preserve peace and prevent future wars by offering a forum for resolving international disputes Create a “League of Nations” to help preserve peace and prevent future wars by offering a forum for resolving international disputes The only one of Wilson’s 14 Points to be accepted by Europe The only one of Wilson’s 14 Points to be accepted by Europe

31. The Treaty of Versailles Signed in June 1919 Signed in June 1919 Officially ended WWI Officially ended WWI

32. 1. Germany was forced to accept all blame for WWI

33. 2. Germany had to pay reparations of $33 billion ($350 billion in today’s money)

34. 3. Germany could only have a limited military

35. 4. Germany had to give up territory to France & Poland

36. 5. Germany had to give up its overseas colonies

37. Germans signed – but were furious over the terms

38. Congress Rejects the Treaty US Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles because of strong opposition to joining the League of Nations – many feared that joining the League would mean giving up our right to decide our own foreign policies, while others saw the League as the type of “foreign entanglement” that Washington had warned the US to stay out of US Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles because of strong opposition to joining the League of Nations – many feared that joining the League would mean giving up our right to decide our own foreign policies, while others saw the League as the type of “foreign entanglement” that Washington had warned the US to stay out of US never signed the Treaty or joined the League, returned to a policy of isolationism US never signed the Treaty or joined the League, returned to a policy of isolationism

39. Casualties of war 1 in every 4 soldiers involved died in the war 1 in every 4 soldiers involved died in the war Even more were maimed: lost limbs, lost vision, burned, etc. Even more were maimed: lost limbs, lost vision, burned, etc. Many suffered from mental problems after the war: “shell shock” or PTSD Many suffered from mental problems after the war: “shell shock” or PTSD Europe lie in ruins Europe lie in ruins

43. Austrian Corporal Adolf Hitler