Learn
Response
America's Response
Most Americans opposed the Central Powers mainly because they fundamentally opposed Kaiser Wilhelm's (Germany's leader during World War I) autocratic rule. Despite their opposition to Germany's leader, Americans wanted to remain neutral or stay out of the war by not taking sides.
American neutrality was heavily influenced by our trade. Basically, we wanted to keep trading with all sides to maintain a strong economy.
America launched the Preparedness Movement (a movement to strengthen U.S. military for defensive purposes at the outbreak of World War I) in 1914 to maintain and protect our neutrality.
Two major events leading up to the US entry into World War I were the the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram.
German Submarine Warfare
The German U-boat (submarine) was a terrifying new weapon that changed the rules of warfare.
Germany's U-boat tactics were considered uncivilized by Americans, which added to anti-German feelings. Germany's decision to use submarine warfare on all enemy ships caused the deaths of many Americans and eventually changed American attitudes about entering the war.
The Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat fired on a British passenger liner named the Lusitania. It went down in 18 minutes, killing 1,200 passengers (128 of those killed were American).
American President Woodrow Wilson protested and urged Germany to pay victims' families and stop submarine warfare.
Sussex Pledge
On March 24, 1916, Germany sunk another ship. This time it was a French ship named the Sussex. Twenty-five more Americans were killed.
In an attempt to calm outrage over submarine warfare and to keep America neutral, the Germans issued the Sussex Pledge. In this pledge, Germany promised that its U-boats would warn ships before attacking.
They kept their pledge until February 1, 1917, when they resumed submarine warfare.
The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany on February 3, 1917.
Zimmerman Note
In addition to using submarine warfare, Germany also made efforts to plot against the United States.
Germany's foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, sent an encrypted telegram, known as the Zimmerman Note, to Mexico's German Ambassador, encouraging Mexico to attack the United States. Germany offered to help Mexico get their land back from the U.S. if they promised to fight.
U.S. Enters the War
More American ships were victims of submarine warfare. President Wilson believed America could no longer remain neutral. On April 2, 1917, Wilson persuaded Congress to pass a war resolution. On April 6, 1917, he signed the resolution to enter World War I.
Action
Preparing for Action
President Wilson sent troops, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), to Europe. The AEF were commanded by Gen. John J. Pershing, a veteran of the Spanish-American War.
The U.S. was far from prepared to send an army large enough to successfully fight in the trenches on the European front.
Draftees
In May 1917, Congress passed a Selective Service Act, authorizing a draft of young men for military service. Men ages 21-30 were required to register for the draft. Twenty-four million American men registered, and three million were called into service. Overall, there was widespread acceptance and support of the program.
The Doughboys
American infantry men were nicknamed doughboys.
The term originated during the Civil War in reference to the dumpling-shaped buttons on Union infantry uniforms.
African Americans and WWI
There were 367,000 black soldiers who served during the war; 42,000 of them saw combat in France.
Evidence of Discrimination:
- Black soldiers were assigned to labor battalions and supply lines.
- They were rarely allowed to fight.
- They were segregated from white troops.
- There were very few black officers.
- Black soldiers often had inadequate training and equipment.
"Harlem Hell Fighters"
The 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Harlem Hell Fighters," was especially eager to fight. Loaned to the French, this all African-American regiment was integrated into the French army. Because of their distinguished service, the entire regiment received France's highest combat medal.
Revolution in Russia
Americans never felt fully comfortable committing to the Allied Powers if it meant being allies with Russia and its leader, Czar Nicholas II.
However, Russia was no longer a factor in the war after the Bolshevik Revolution. Czar Nicholas II was forced to give up power and he was replaced with a "Republican government" led by Alexander Kerensky.
Not long after Czar Nicholas II was overthrown, the Russian government once again faced revolution. This time, the Bolsheviks (members of the Russian Social-Democratic Worker's Party led by Lenin who seized control of Russia in October 1917 during the Russian Revolution), followers of Vladimir Lenin, violently overthrew Russia's government.
Lenin made a deal with Germany that included a promise of peace and Russia's withdrawal from fighting in World War I. Peace with Russia freed Germany from fighting a two-front war. They could now focus on France and Great Britain on the western front.
Americans to the Rescue
With the Russians out of the picture, German forces turned all their energies toward the French and British lines. They were able to break through and head toward Paris.
American forces saved Paris and marched out under the command of Brigadier General James Harbord. During the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, the Germans were stopped and the tide of the war began to turn!
Unfortunately, America lost over half of its troops during the battle.
The Tank
The tank was a new weapon introduced by the British. It could cross trenches and roll through barbed wire, while remaining invulnerable to enemy fire. Tanks were used to launch assaults in advance of foot troops to break German lines.
American Heroes
Corporal Alvin York
- He was originally a conscientious objector to the war.
- York's squad attacked a pivotal German machine gun nest.
- York killed twenty-five Germans and captured another 132 with only his rifle and pistol.
American Heroes
Eddie Rickenbacker
- He was a celebrated fighter pilot
- He defeated Germany's "Flying Circus", the infamous German squadron led by the Red Baron
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was the first major military effort entirely in American hands. General Pershing and his troops pushed Germany out of their long-held position, causing the Germans to retreat.
The Allies used airplanes to drop bombs and engage in aerial dogfights (aerial combat maneuvers at short range).
Learn more about the movement across the western front with this Map of World War I battles.
Ending the War
The Allies pressed on, fighting for total surrender, while Germany begged for peace. Finally, on November 11, 1918, an armistice, or ceasefire, was signed and the guns finally fell silent. The armistice was signed on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.
Kaiser Wilhelm, the ruler of Germany, fled to Holland.
Scars of War
An estimated eight million soldiers and sailors were killed during World War I. This means that an average of 5,000 soldiers were killed on each day of the war.
The Allied Powers (labeled as Entente Powers on the chart) lost nearly 5.7 million soldiers, while the Central Powers lost around four million.
America lost 50,000, a fraction of the lives lost in Europe.
Consequences
The terrible consequences extended beyond the battlefields. Millions of civilians died during and after fighting from starvation, disease (influenza or flu), or war-related injury.
Genocide
During and after the war, hundreds of thousands of Armenian civilians were killed in a campaign of genocide, which is the organized killing of an entire people. The campaign was led by Ottoman forces who suspected the Armenians of being disloyal to the government. Armenians were deported and an estimated 800,000 to 1.5 million were killed by Ottoman authorities.
The killing of Armenians would continue into the early 1920s.
 |