America Enters World War I

6 April 1917

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All personal photographs are copyright© by M. Rauer

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Attitudes of the American People -1914

Sympathies with the Allies from the startGerman – Americans (20 – 25%) splitIrish – Anti-British

Submarine Warfare angered the American PeopleLusitania – May 1915

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President Woodrow Wilson

Reelected in November 1916

“He kept us out of War”

America trying to remain “Neutral”

Selling war materials mostly to the Allies

Some groups opposed to helping England … The Irish!

U-Boat “DeutschlandBaltimore Harbor 9 July 1916 (5 trips to US)

President Wilson

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Poncho Villa

General John “Black Jack” Pershing

Columbus, New Mexico - 9 March 1916 US Army Punitive Expedition

14 March 1916 – 7 February 1917

Trouble along the southern border of the United States

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National Defense Act of 1916

3 June 1916

Expansion of the National Guard by 400% Creation of an Officers and enlisted

Reserve Corps Creation of Reserve Officers’ Training

Corps (ROTC) in colleges Authorized an army of 175,000 men and a

National Guard of 450,000

1914 – Start of WWI

Romania = 290,000Bulgaria = 280,000Greece = 230,000Turkey 210,000Serbia = 200,000US Army = 200,000 (19th in the world!)

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Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare1 February 1917

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German foreign minister Zimmerman to the German Embassy in Mexico City

Released by the British government to the United States

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6 April 1917

President Wilson addresses Congress seeking a declaration of war against GermanyEveryone knew it was coming!!

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Congressional Vote for War

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Presidential Proclamation 1370 – Conscription Selective Service Act of 1917

18 May 1917

Males aged 21 – 30 (moved to 18 – 45) Registration Draft Duration

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Registration for the Draft with local Draft Boards

Wide variety of people, exemptions for physical ailments

Emma Goldman & No-Conscription League, May 1917

Public Debates & Aid in Draft Resistance.

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Recruiting Drive

James Montgomery

Flagg

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Women & minorities enter the workforce in traditional male occupations

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Food Management / No Nationwide Rationing in America

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Committee for Public Information (CPI)

Executive Order 2594 (13 April 1917)

George Creel (Newsman)Service Secretaries

Coordinate / Influence American Public Opinion

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United States Navy first to fight the Germans

USCGC Tampa - 1918

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April 1917 Balfour Mission

1st Request – Medical Personnel & Equipment

Base Hospital # 4 (Cleveland, OH) arrived 25 May 1917

25 May – 11 June: six American base hospitals arrive in France

Americans in France with American field Service or Red Cross

14 July 1917: Captain (USA-M.C.) Louis Genella lightly wounded while with the B.E.F. in Flanders.

17 August 1917: First seriously wounded American was Miss Beatrice McDonald (USA-N.C.) who lost an eye.

4 September 1917: First American killed was 1Lt William Fitzsimmons who was bombed in his tent at Base Hospital #5 in Dannes-Camiers, France.

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Pershing arrives in France13 June 1917

Great enthusiasm and appreciation from the French general public

Where are the soldiers?

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13 June 1917 – 1st American soldiers arrive w/ Pershing

No divisions existed!

1st Division created = 14,000 men

Captain George Marshall1st Lt. George Patton

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World War I Divisions

Regular Army

1st

2nd (Contains a Marine Brigade)

(2nd Division Commanded by Maj.Gen. John Lejeune, USMC)

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

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National Guard

26th – ME/NH/VT/MA/RI/CT27th – New York28th – Pennsylvania29th -- VA/MD/DE/DC30th -- TN/NC/SC31st -- GA/AL/FL32nd – MI/WI33rd -- Illinois34th – MN/IA/NE/ND/SD35th – MO/KS36th -- TX/OK37th – OH/WV38th – IN/KY39th – LA/MS/AR40th – CA/NV/UT/CO/AZ/NM41st – WA/OR/MT/WY*42nd – NY/AL (Rainbow)

World War I Divisions

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World War I Divisions National Army

76th

77th (Lost Battalion)78th

79th

80th

81st

82nd (Sgt. York – Airborne WWII)83rd

84th

85th

86th

87th

88th

89th

90th

91st

92nd (Colored-French)93rd (Colored-French)

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American Divisions = 28,000* menTwice the size of European divisions

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Pershing’s HQ

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1918

2011

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Keep the Soldiers Occupied / Training

Keeping the men busy!

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