Americans On The European Front

The United States Slowly Gets Involved

• The U.S. at first wanted to be and associate in the war – Naval support – Supplies – Arms – No troops – Allies insist that U.S. send troops

The United States Slowly Gets Involved

• 1917 U.S. sends John J. “Black Jack” Pershing with 14,500 men (This is not enough) • Congress passes the Selective Service Act • AEF – American Expeditionary Force – Draftees, national guardsmen and volunteers make up the AEF – AEF also included women • Worked as nurses, drivers, clerks and telephone operators • Also worked for government and private agencies tied to the war effort

How To Move Men and Supplies

• Convoy system – Use quick destroyers to escort ships to Europe – Destroyers were fast enough to mount a counter attack on U-boats

American Soldiers in Europe • Discrimination – Separation between the American troops and allied troops – Black Troops were separated from white troops

American Soldiers in Europe • Since Russia is out of the war Germans are fighting a one front war • Americans help stop Germans from taking Paris – This turns the tide of the war

American Soldiers in Europe • Allied counterattack – July 1918 allied counter offensive starts – August 8, 1918, Battle of Amiens, the allies stop German advance for good

Armistice • September 26, 1918 – Allies push Germany out of France – Allies cut German supply lines • November 11, 1918, armistice or a cease fire was established

The War’s Toll

• 50,000 Americans die in battle and more from disease • 1 million French soldiers die • 4,000 French towns destroyed • 900,000 British soldiers die • 20 million European civilians die • Many more wounded