12.2 & 12.3

The US Enters The Great War 1917-1918

UnterseebootUnterseeboot• February 1915 – German U-boat February 1915 – German U-boat

blockadeblockade• May 7, 1915 – May 7, 1915 – LusitaniaLusitania crisis crisis• September 1, 1915 – September 1, 1915 – ArabicArabic pledge pledge• March 24, 1916 – March 24, 1916 – SussexSussex crisis crisis

– SussexSussex pledge results warn ships before pledge results warn ships before Germans attackGermans attack

• Woodrow Wilson is pleased to haveWoodrow Wilson is pleased to have“kept us out of war.”“kept us out of war.”

Road to WarRoad to WarZimmermannZimmermann

TelegramTelegram•February 25, 1917February 25, 1917

– Telegraph from Germany to MexicoTelegraph from Germany to Mexico

– German-Mexican allianceGerman-Mexican alliance

– Intercepted by British intelligenceIntercepted by British intelligence

– Wilson asks Congress for authority Wilson asks Congress for authority to arm merchant ships.to arm merchant ships.

11

Road to WarRoad to WarRussianRussian

RevolutionRevolution•March 15, 1917March 15, 1917

– Autocratic Russia bothered Wilson.Autocratic Russia bothered Wilson.

– Revolutionaries declare a republic.Revolutionaries declare a republic.

– (This would later turn Communist.)(This would later turn Communist.)

22

Road to WarRoad to WarEscalation ofEscalation of

U-boat attacksU-boat attacks•First weeks of March 1917First weeks of March 1917

– German U-boats sink 5 unarmed US German U-boats sink 5 unarmed US merchant ships.merchant ships.

– Breaking the Sussex Pledge Breaking the Sussex Pledge • We break off diplomatic relations with GermanyWe break off diplomatic relations with Germany

– Pro-war demonstrations all over USPro-war demonstrations all over US

– Unrestricted submarine warfareUnrestricted submarine warfare was the main was the main cause for US joining the war.cause for US joining the war.

33

America Declares WarAmerica Declares War•April 6, 1917April 6, 1917

– The United States declares war on The United States declares war on Germany.Germany.

““The world must be made safe for The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be democracy. Its peace must be

planted upon the tested planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty.”foundations of political liberty.”

Now what?Now what?

“Blackjack” Pershing

The DraftThe Draft• May 1917May 1917

– Selective Service Act drafts young men Selective Service Act drafts young men for military servicefor military service

– Any man 21-30 (later 18-45)Any man 21-30 (later 18-45)

• 4.7 million Americans served as 4.7 million Americans served as part of the AEFpart of the AEF(American Expeditionary Force)(American Expeditionary Force)– Known as the “doughboys”Known as the “doughboys”

Alvin York

• Medal of Honor Recipient• Pacifist before the war

• Killed 25 Germans, captured 125 more AT ONCE• Was shouting at them to “Give up!” the whole time

• "And those machine guns were spitting fire and cutting down the undergrowth all around me something awful. And the Germans were yelling orders. You never heard such a racket in all of your life. I didn't have time to dodge behind a tree or dive into the brush... As soon as the machine guns opened fire on me, I began to exchange shots with them. There were over thirty of them in continuous action, and all I could do was touch the Germans off just as fast as I could. I was sharp shooting... All the time I kept yelling at them to come down. I didn't want to kill any more than I had to. But it was they or I. And I was giving them the best I had."

Billy Mitchell

• Earliest American Air Strategist• Many American and Foreign Decorations.• Called the “Father of Air Force”.• Most of his peers and commanders did not like him

African AmericansAfrican Americans• Segregated units, rarely allowed to Segregated units, rarely allowed to

fightfight• Worked as cooks, laundrymen, etc.Worked as cooks, laundrymen, etc.

• 369369thth US Infantry served with US Infantry served with distinctiondistinction– First & longest service of any US First & longest service of any US

regimentregiment– Awarded Awarded Croix de GuerreCroix de Guerre by France by France

Protecting ParisProtecting ParisThe Argonne OffensiveThe Argonne Offensive

• Spring 1918Spring 1918– Russian-German peace treatyRussian-German peace treaty

– German offensive toward ParisGerman offensive toward Paris

–Americans save the day!Americans save the day!

Protecting ParisProtecting Paris• ““We dig no trenches to fall back We dig no trenches to fall back

on. The Marines will hold where on. The Marines will hold where they stand.”they stand.”

• They did just that.They did just that.

Ending the WarEnding the War• Central Powers collapsed 1 by 1Central Powers collapsed 1 by 1

• Germans begged for peaceGermans begged for peace

–The Allies refused.The Allies refused.

• German sailors mutinied 10-29-18German sailors mutinied 10-29-18

• Kaiser fled to Holland 11-10-18Kaiser fled to Holland 11-10-18

• ArmisticeArmistice signed 11-11-18 signed 11-11-18–Fighting stopped at 11:00amFighting stopped at 11:00am

Results of the WarResults of the War• AEFAEF

–48,909 dead48,909 dead

–230,000 wounded230,000 wounded

–112,000 more dead to influenza112,000 more dead to influenza

• TotalTotal–8 million soldiers/sailors dead8 million soldiers/sailors dead

–Millions of civiliansMillions of civilians

Tomb of the Unknowns