AMERICA IN WWI

• By April 2, 1917, “we are glad … to fight…for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples…The world must be made safe for democracy…the right is more precious than peace.”

WILSON “KEPT US OUT OF WAR” IN 1916

• ONLY 32,000 volunteered after war declaration– Army less than 200,000

• Selective Service Act, May 1917– Required men to register with the

government– Randomly selected for service– 21-30 then 18-45– 24 million registered– Cannot buy a replacement – ~23 million called up, 2 million went

to Europe, 1.5 million saw combat

THE AMERICAN MILITARY

War Industries Board – Bernard BaruchFood Administration – Herbert HooverRailroad Administration – William McAdooNational War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

EXPANDING THE POWER OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

• Committee on Public Information (CPI)– Speeches– movie reels– newspaper articles– posters

SELLING THE WAR

True sons of freedom

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN & AFRICAN AMERICANS

• British on the verge of starving from the U-boat attacks

• The Convoy System– All merchant ships escorted

by armed destroyers

• mines across North Sea to destroy U-boats

• Germans could not keep up with losses to U-boats, no longer destroying as much British cargo

AMERICA’S ROLE IN WWI

American Expeditionary Force led by General John Pershing (remember him?)– Doughboys , nickname

American soldiers

Doughboys Role in WWI• Allied powers were exhausted• American soldiers were “new

blood”• Supported offensives by Allied

Powers

AMERICA’S ROLE IN WWI

11/11/1918 – Cease Fire – War Over

The Last Straws Central Powers tiredFailed German OffensiveSuccessful Allied Offensives-New American Blood, No New Central SoldiersGerman naval strategy no longer as effectiveGerman navy revolt Population done

THE WAR ENDS

• 9 million killed • 4 empires collapsed • France, Belgium and Russia

devastated by fighting

THE AFTERMATH

Anthem for Doomed Youth – Wilfred Own What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?Only the monstrous anger of the guns.Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattleCan patter out their hasty orisons.No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;And bugles calling for them from sad shires.What candles may be held to speed them all?Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyesShall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;Their flowers the tenderness of silent maids,And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds