Transcript World War I Begins

American Power
Tips the Balance
Main Idea:

The United States mobilized a large
army and navy to help the Allies
achieve victory
How did the United States raise an
army?

Selective Service Act
–
–
Institute the draft
Volunteers
 Large number of
African Americans
How did the U.S. soldiers help win
the war?
**Numbers
 Freshness
and Enthusiasm
 Stopped
advances
into French cities
How did the U.S. build its naval
force?

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Volunteers
Accepted Women
Took over commercial industry
–
Used steel, iron, and other factories to make
supplies they needed
How did the U.S. Navy help win the
war?


Convoy system
to move supplies
Helped plant mines
on coast of the
North Sea to stop
the advancement of
the Germans
What new weapons of mechanized
warfare threatened those in combat?

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Machine guns
Tanks
Airplanes (not as common)
Zeppelins (blimps)
Gas Masks
Poisonous Gases
The Allies Win the War
• November 3, 1918- Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies.
• On November 9, 1918 German Socialist leaders established a new
government in Berlin. The Kaiser (king) gave up his throne.
• November 11, 1918- Germans too exhausted to continue, signed the
armistice (cease-fire) that ended the war.
What were the estimated costs?
$338 BILLION
What did the war cost in terms of
the number of…

Civilian Deaths:
–

More than 11 million
Injuries:
–

20 million
Military Deaths:
–

More than 11 million
Refugees:
–
10 million
Meuse-Argonne Cemetery France
World War I Bomb
Craters
Western Front Trenches
Now
Then