2. The United States stays
neutral
Why did the United States try to
stay neutral in the War?
Leaning Toward the Allies
- Concern for Germany’s aggression
- Strong political ties to Great Britain and
France.
- By 1917 Britain was purchasing 75
million worth of war goods from the
U.S.
German Submarine Warfare
- Feb. 1915 Germany declared waters
around Great Britain a war zone, any
boat seen as a potential enemy ship
- Attack of all ships seen as unrestricted
submarine warfare
3.
4. Heading toward
war
Which events showed that
America was headed to war?
Lusitania
- May 7, 1915
- Headed for Great Britain
- Attacked by a German U-boat
- Sinks in 18 minutes
- 1,900 people aboard (1,200 died including 128
Americans)
Sussex
- March 24, 1916
- French passenger ship attacked by a German
U-boat
- 80 people are killed
- Sussex Pledge
- Promies not to sink merchant vessels “without
warning and without saving human lives
5.
6. Heading toward
war
Which events showed that
America was headed to war?
The Zimmerman Telegram
- Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram to
a German official in Mexico
- Proposed an alliance with Mexico
- “Make war together, Make peace together”
- Mexico was to reconquer New Mexico,
Texas and California
- Was intended to keep the U.S. occupied
and out of Europe
- Mexico had no interest in fighting the
U.S.
7.
8. Heading toward
war
Which events showed that
America was headed to war?
The United States Declares War
- Czar Nicholas II forced to give up power
in Russia (creates a republic gov’t and
democratic)
- Concern for the new Russian gov’t on
how long the new gov’t would fight on
the eastern front
- March 1917 German U-boats sink 3
American Merchant ships
- Wilson outraged, asks Congress on April
2, 1917 to declare war on Germany
- April 6, 1917 Congress votes and
approves joining the allies in going to
war against Germany
9. Americans in
Europe
What contributions did
Americans make in Europe?
Raising an Army
- May 18, 1917 congress passed the
Selective Service Act
- Required men 21-30 to register for the draft
- Training with wooden sticks and
barrels
- Africans and Latinos segregated from
white recruits and given menial jobs
- Arriving in Europe
- American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) led by
General John J. Pershing
- First troops arrive in June, 1917
- Pershing wanted the AEF to fight in their
own units
- Pershing sends troops to training camps in
Eastern France
10.
11. Americans in
Europe
What contributions did
Americans make in Europe?
Allied Setbacks
- November 1917 the Bolsheviks took control
of the Russian gov’t
- Communists: People who seek the equal
distribution of wealth and end of all
private property.
- Vladimir Ilich Lenin (leader of the
Bolsheviks) withdrew troops from
the eastern front and signed a
peace treaty with Germany.
- March of 1918 Germans from the eastern
front move focus to the western front
advancing against the allied forces to the
Marne River, just 70 miles NE of Paris
12.
13. Americans in
Europe
What contributions did
Americans make in Europe?
U.S troops in action
- Begin fighting with the allied forces nearly 12
months later in early 1918
- Dig 3,000 yards of trenches and set up 12,000 yards
of Barbed wire
- Defended Paris in June 1918, the U.S. troops helped
the French stop the Germans at Chateau-Thierry
successfully halting the German advance in France.
African American Soldiers and Women
- 42,000 African American soldiers served in combat
(369th Infantry - Harlem Hell fighters)
- After the War were given Croix de Guerre a medal
for bravery.
- 20,000 Women worked as nurses
- Women filled other important roles as Switchboard
operators (hello girls), typists, bookkeepers and
radio operators
14.
15. The War ends
Q: How did the War end?
- July 15, 1918 Germans launch
their last, desperate offensive at
the Second Battle of the Marne.
- The U.S. blew up all the German
bridges crossing the Marne River
- August 3, Germans retreat after
suffering 150,000 casualties
- Allies begin counterattack in
September 1918.
- First time that Americans fight as
a separate army
- AEF defeated German troops at
Mihiel, near the French-German
border
16. The War ends
Q: How did the War end?
The Armistice
- Late 1918 the war was crippling the German
economy
- Civilians lacked food and supplies
- Food riots and strikes
- Revolutions sweeps across Austria-Hungary
- Difficulty in convincing soldiers to fight,
some even ran away
- Early November Austria-Hungary signed a
peace treaty agreement with the allies.
- Germany surrenders
- Give up all territory acquired
- Surrendered its aircraft, heavy artillery, tanks,
and U-boats.
- Also forced Germany to allow allied troops to
occupy some German territory.
- Armistice official November 11, 1918
