Chapter 11, Section 2America Tips the Balance of Power

Objectives:• Described how the U.S. mobilized for the war.• Summarize U.S. battlefield successes.• Identify the new weapons and the medical

problems faced in WWI.• Describe U.S. offensives and the end of the war.

American Ace –Eddie Rickenbacker

Manfred Von Richtohofen“The Red Baron”

“You’re in the Army Now”

How did the U.S. raise an army?

• 1917 – only 200,000 men in the service• Selective Service Act – May, 1917

– Required men 18 to 45 to register– 24 million registered– 2 million Europe ( most had not attended high

school and 20% foreign born)• Wide acceptance – believed this was the

“war to end all wars”

“You’re in the Army Now”• Selective Service Act

– 24 million register– 2.8 million are drafted– 2 million volunteer– Democratic procedures controlled by local draft

boards• New IQ test shows illiteracy at 25%

– “The military tent will rank next to the public schools among the great agents of democratization,” Teddy Roosevelt.

How did the US transport troops to Europe safely?

• Convoy system – heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships

• 230 mile barrier of mines in the North Sea – kept U-boats out of the Atlantic

• Only 637 Americans lost to U-boat attacks during transport to Europe

• Losses went from 900,000 tons/month to 200,000

What was the role of American troops in Europe?

• Doughboys• General John J. Pershing

– Did not want to integrate with European forces

– Thought Europeans were too accustomed to defensive action

– Wanted to save his troops for offensive action

Americans in Battle

Commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

Believed in the total destruction of his enemy

Hated the defensive nature of the trenches

General “Blackjack” Pershing

Americans in BattleThe Convoy System

What were African American expectations?

• Supported war effort• Hoped cooperation would improve their

situation• Experienced equality in France• Frustrated at home • Intolerance increased

Racism in the Military• Segregated units or exclusion• Low status jobs• Overt racism and violence• 200,000 serve in France with 1 in 5

experiencing combat– The 369th Harlem Hellfighters fought with

the French– 191 days in the trenches– French award them the Croix de Guerre

Eugene Bullard was the first black military pilot and the

only black pilot in World War I.

Old Weapons of War

New Weapons of War

French artillery loading gas canisters

British soldiers blinded by mustard gas

The effects of mustard gas

Flame Throwers

Krupp Railroad Gun

WW I Tank

Alvin York • Conscientious

Objector• Meuse-Argonne• Killed 25 Germans• With help

captured 32 more

What caused the collapse of Germany?

• Nov. 3, 1918 Austria Hungary surrendered• Critical food shortages and prospect of U.S.

reinforcements for the Allies• 14 Points…• Nov. 9, socialist leaders in Berlin established

the German Republic• Kaiser abdicated• November 11, 1918 – cease – fire - armistice

What was the cost of the war?

• Europe– 22 million – more than ½ civilians– 20 million wounded– 10 million refugees

• U.S.– 52,000 died in battle– 62,000 died of disease– 200,000 wounded

Dead & Wounded Stats