America+in+World+War+I

= **AMERICA IN WWI** = =By Molly Dugan= = = **War in Europe** Before the conflict there were even more important acts that decided the sides that would be fighting in World War I. In Europe some countries desired to have peace, while others hungered for power. Countries had discord between them because of different previous wars or land that was taken over from another. So in order to be safe from conquering or destruction some countries made alignments. In 1882 the **Triple Alliance was formed which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.** And in 1907 the **Triple Entente was formed which included France, Britain, and Russia.** On **July 28, 1914** when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia for the assassination of Ferdinand, their alliances forced other countries to take sides. On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia and two days later declared war on France. England entered two days later on the side of France and Russia. The Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and Italy joined the Central Alliance(Triple Alliance) and Japan joined the Allies(Triple Entente).
 * The war in Europe began with a gunshot. The shot was on June 28, 1914 directed to Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Throne, and his wife. It was from a nineteen-year-old Bosnia student. This is how conflict began.**

** President Wilson of the United States wanted to continue the policy of not being involved in European conflicts. He decided to urge American’s to stay neutral or not take a side in their war. But as the war got worse **Wilson realized that America couldn’t stay neutral for much longer.** So in 1916 Congress passed acts to protect and prepare the US against the Central Powers. · National Defense Act – Doubled size of army · Naval Appropriations Bill – Gave money to build war ships · Council of National Defense – Formed to direct and control the supply of industries and natural resources in the US.
 * Wilson’s Strategies

On May 7, 1915 a German submarine torpedoed the British passenger ship, the Lusitania. The disaster killed 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. The neutrality in the US was shaken and Wilson went on a protest against the German government. Germany promised that they would pay for the damages, not sink passenger ships anymore, but they refused to do the one of the things Wilson required; they would not stop submarine warfare. When German U-boat later sank five neutral ships, the citizens of the United States craved revenge.
 * America’s Trouble with Germany **

On January 1917, Arthur Zimmerman sent a **secret message to Mexico promising Germany to help Mexico take back New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas back from the US in return for Mexican aid for Germany if the US were to enter the war.** The British intercepted the message and decoded it telling it to the US. Even though Mexico declined with Germany, Wilson was outraged at this act because of the violation to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine.

In March, 1917, Russian revolutionists overthrew their ruler Czar Nicholas II. They put in a Democratic government. Wilson realized that Russia was now an acceptable ally for the US. Wilson secretly asked Congress to declare war on Germany.
 * The Turning Point **
 * Congress issued the bill on April 6, 1917. America was in the war. **

**American’s in Military Service ** One of the first problems faced with the US entering the war was getting people in the military forces. Even though people were registering for the good of their country on their own, there weren’t enough men in the forces. So, Congress passed the **Selective Service Act of May 18, 1917**. The act forced man 21-30 to register to be in the military. Men in the forces were given the name, ‘Doughboys’ because of their youth and inexperience.



In the span of the war, 360,000 **African American’s** entered the armed forces. Their hope was that in showing their patriotism people would come over racism. This was not the case though. In the forces African American’s were forced into segregated units or even noncombat duty.

17,213 **Native American’s** volunteered to help out with the war. Out of them, 6,509 enlisted in the forces. Congress then decided that if a Native American served in the war they would be granted citizenship.


 * Women** also contributed greatly in the war; approximately 25,000 contributed by working in the forces. They were in the army and marines, naval nurse corps, secretaries, telephone operators, doctors, dentists, decoders, librarians, and even chauffeurs. They did most of the things in the war except for fight. [[image:http://www.peggeorge.com/dothejobheleftbehind.jpg width="143" height="172" align="left"]]

**Acts for Financing the War ** The next problem was the financing of the war. The War Revenue Act was passed in October 1917 to raise income taxes. **Liberty Bonds** were sold in order to gain money for financing war operations and a symbol of patriotism for citizens. The **Liberty Loan Act of 1917** let the government lend the Allies money for food and supplies from the US. Finally the Food Administration decided in order to have enough food for people in the US as well as the troops overseas they would raise crop prices. This way, farmers would grow more crops and people wouldn’t hoard food. media type="youtube" key="6PHpI2Abvjw" height="268" width="336" align="center"

Some groups opposed of America being involved in the war for different reasons so different acts were passed to help stop the oppositions. In June 1917 the **Espionage Act** said that people who interfered with recruiting soldiers or said statements that would hinder the war effort would be given penalties. **The Sedition Act of May 16, 1918** stated that it was now illegal to say disloyal statements about the Constitution, government, the flag, or the forces. **And in 1919 the Supreme Court granted the government the right to suspend free speech during the war.**
 * Oppositions of War **

**In The War**
WWI was a turning point in weapons being used for war. Inventions used outside of the war were now being put inside the war.
 * NEW WEAPONS**

PLANES - Planes were now being transformed into weapons as people added machine guns to them. They were also used for transportation and long distance bombing.

TANKS - Tanks were newly invented in Europe and as the war went on, factories in America started building them. They were used as heavy shooting machines on the battle ground.

POISON GAS - Poison gas was being used to kill on battlegrounds. After an attack hit a soldier would have to put on a mask to protect him. If he did not do so, he would die.

GERMAN U-BOATS - German U-Boats are submarines, in which submarine warfare started. Attacks would be placed on war ships, cargo ships, and even passenger ships like the Lusitania. In 1918 Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany. Now with the Soviets out of the way Germany moved onto capturing Paris. So, on June 1st the American troops reached Belleau Wood to defend Paris from being invaded. There, they fought the German for 3 weeks and finally on June 25th the Marines drove the German’s away. This was the first victory America took a major part in, in WWI. More victories were to come.
 * Fighting Germany**

America went on a summer-long offensive in 1918. In this, they defeated the German’s and drove them out of St. Mihiel. Later they fought in North France for 47 days on the Sedan Railroad where another victory was accomplished.

**Armistice Day** On November 11, 1918 the German’s signed the armistice after the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary. This concluded the war. ​

**Treaty of Versailles** On January 8, 1918 Wilson presented his 14 Points to Congress. The first five were about removing the causes of war. The next eight were about the belief in self-determination. The last and most important point was about the formation of a League of Nations. They would work together to protect a nation that was attacked by another. These points were turned into realistic actions as President Wilson traveled to the Paris Peace Conference. In January 18, 1919, seventy representatives from twenty seven different countries came together to the Paris Peace Conference. The “Big Four” included the Prime Minister of Britain, France’s Premier, Italy’s Premier, and finally President Wilson.

Here they decided on the Treaty of Versailles. In it they set up a League of Nations, redrew the map of Europe redefining its boundaries, stripped Germany of its armed forces and demanded 33 billion dollars for reparations from the war, and finally put in place the War Guilt Clause. In it, it stated that Germany must admit that they, and only they, were responsible for the war. This spiked up angry remarks and people wanting vengeance. One of those people was Adolf Hitler.

Little did people know at the time, but WWI only set the grounds for WWII, only 20 year later. WWI also had to do with the loss of financial stability which lead to the stock market crash and later to the Dust Bowl.