Download Ch 24, Sec. 2 America Joins the Fight!

Ch 19, Sec. 2
America Joins the Fight!
Examine the reasons why the United States helped the Allies to
win the First World War.
Raising an Army and a Navy
The United States was not prepared to enter
WWI.
However, because of the draft, more than 3
million US soldiers were in uniform by 1918.
Over 2 million soldiers went to France and
served in the American Expeditionary Force,
or the AEF.
Nearly 50,000 women served with the Army in the war.
The largest group of female soldiers were nurses, while some
also served as clerks, interpreters, phone operators, and Red
Cross Workers.
African-American Soldiers
Approximately 400,000 black
soldiers served in the
military.
Despite serving valiantly and
heroically, the black soldiers
were still segregated and
separated into all-black units
that were commanded by
white officers.
Four all-black infantry units
served with distinction in the
war. They were the 369th,
370th, 371st, and 372nd Infantry
Regiments.
The 369th Infantry Regiment
spend more time on the front
lines in combat than any
other American unit.
American Troops Enter the War!
When the American Doughboys entered the fighting, Europe had been at
war for three years. But by May of 1918, over 1 million fresh American
troops were ready for action against the Germans.
The American soldiers smashed
headlong into the German Army at
Chateau-Thierry, Cantigny, and
Belleau Wood.
The fighting was fierce and the
casualties heavy, but the
Doughboys held their ground and
beat back the German onslaught.
Pushing the Germans Back!
May – November, 1918
At the Second Battle of the
Marne in July of 1918, the
Germans were decisively
defeated.
From this point until November,
the German Armies were pushed
back across France.
It was now only a matter of time
before the entire German
infrastructure collapsed.
Sergeant Alvin C. York
Medal of Honor
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker
Medal of Honor
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The End!
On November 11, 1918, the German Imperial Armies, unable to fight on, signed
an armistice and surrendered to the Allies. The “war to end all wars” finally
came to an end. In January, 1919, representatives from more than 32 nations
met in Paris to discuss the peace. The Treaty became known as, “The Treaty
of Versailles” and it placed all the blame for the war on Germany and her
people. It was even forced to pay all debts for the war!
The 30th Infantry Division
The 30th ID became one of the most well-known Army units to fight during
WWI. Composed largely of North Carolinians, the division covered itself
in glory and fame on September 29th, 1918 when the men of the 30th
smashed through the nearly impregnable Hidenburg Line. When the 30th
did so, it helped to speed up the German collapse along the Western
Front.
Effects of World War I on the World and in North Carolina
The effects of the First World War were
tremendous and far-reaching.
-8.5 million soldiers were killed.
-Over 21 million were wounded physically
or mentally.
-Millions of civilians across the world died
from disease and starvation.
Nearly 86,000 North Carolinians served in
the military during the war and the military
presence within the state grew with the
addition of three major army bases. Fort
Bragg would become the largest.
Effects of the war on Europe
1. Revolution in Russia
2. Allies are victorious.
3. Widespread death and
destruction across Europe.
4. Breakup of Empires.
5. Formation of the League of
Nations.
6. Resentment and hard
feelings that led to World
War II.
Making Peace
• After the Treaty of Versailles, U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson asked the countries of the world to
form a League of Nations.
• It was hoped that this organization would work
together to avoid future conflicts.
• The United States, however, believed that the best
possible choice to avoid war was to remain neutral
and isolated from world affairs. As a result, the
United States refused to join the League of Nations
and ratify the Versailles Treaty.
The Spanish Flu Epidemic 1917-1919
Another deadly result of the war was the deadly flu epidemic that swept the globe
during this time. The flu killed more than 20 million people on six continents. It
disappeared in 1919 with no known cure. An estimated one million or more
people in the United States died from the illness.
Bibliography
www.wikipedia.com
www.reenactor.net
http://www.americal.org/awards/cib.htm
http://home.nc.rr.com/oldhickory/index.shtml
www.greatwar.com
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/influenza/flupatients.html
http://www.world-war-pictures.com/american-world-warpictures/warusa031.html