Download The United States Joins the War

The United States Joins
the War
What Do You Need to Go to War?
• Soldiers
• Supplies
• Weapons & Ammo
• Training
Selective Service Act
• Passed on May 18, 1917
• All men ages 21-30 required to register for draft
• Some tried to object based on religion/beliefs
• Those who objected may be imprisoned, or given
opportunities to do other services
• *Still exists today- Ages 18-25 must register
• “We were cursed, beaten, kicked, and compelled
to go through exercises to the extent that a few
were unconscious for some minutes. They kept it
up for the greater part of the afternoon, and then
those who could possibly stand on their feet were
compelled to take cold shower baths. One of the
boys was scrubbed with a scrubbing brush using
lye on him. They drew blood in several places.
-Mennonite from Camp Lee,
Virginia, United States, 16 July 1918”
Discrimination in the Military during WWI
• Regiments were
segregated
• African Americans were
not allowed to train with
weapons
• Latinos were be given
the lower tasks
369th Infantry- Harlem Hell Fighters
• 42,000 African
Americans fought in
WWI
• Served 191 days in
the trenches
• Awarded France’s
award for bravery
When the United States entered the war in 1917,
Germany increased U-boat attacks, hoping to win
the war before American troops could make a difference.
Convoys of British and American ships, protected by
warships, provided better safety at sea.
The American Expeditionary Forces
(AEF)
• Led by General
John J. Pershing
• Soldiers from the
regular army,
National Guard, and
a force of volunteers
& draftees
• Fought on the
Western Front
American Troops to Europe
• First troops arrived in June 1917
• Spent almost a year training in Europe
• Key part of saving Paris from Germany
• Fought from Spring of 1918-November 1918
General John J. Pershing turned millions of
untrained American men into soldiers,
then led them in France.
•
The arrival of American soldiers gave the
Allies a military advantage.
•
They fought bravely in many battles.
•
By the end of the war, 1.3 million
Americans had served at the front.
More than 50,000 of them died.
The war took a huge toll on those involved.
•
Nearly 5 million Allied
soldiers and 8 million Central
Powers soldiers were killed
in the fighting.
•
In addition, 6.5 million
civilians died during the
conflict.
The Armistice Is Signed
• Peace agreement to stop fighting
• Signed on November 11, 1918 ( 11th hour on the
11th day of the 11th month of 1918)
• Germany had to surrender all aircrafts, U-boats,
heavy artillery. Also had to allow Allied troops into
parts of the country