Who was Eddie Rickenbacker and how was he significant in WWI?
a famous fighter pilot known as the “American ace of aces” who fought the Flying Circus led by the Red Baron
a senior United States Army officer, most famous as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I
he was one of the most decorated soldiers of the United States Army in World War, who received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, killing at least 28 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others
How did the US raise an army for the War?
They required to all men and women to fight in the War so they were obliged to train for 7 months in case of being called for war
Congress passed the Selective Service Act in 1917: where men were required to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service.
Who were allowed to enter the US army and what were the inductees' positions?
White men - who served in any position required
African Americans - who served in any position required
African Americans - who served in the military in segregated units and were excluded from the navy and the marines.
Women - who served in any position of their choice
Women - who served as nurses, secretaries and telephone operators with full military rank.
Training was rather harsh (8 months, partly in US and partly in Europe, target practice, bayonet drill, etc) weapons were short in supply and soldiers often drilled with fake weapons.
What was the convoy system?
was a system used to avoid German U-boat attacks to merchant ships, where a heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups
men were required to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service
tank offensive plans made by the Germans to invade Belgium
How did the US expand its navy so quickly?
The government exempted many shipyard workers from the draft and gave others a “deferred” classification. Delaying their participation in the draft
They distributed service flags to families of shipyard workers and urged automobile owners to give shipyard employees rides to and from work , since streetcars were so crowded.
Government used nuclear weapons to bombard Germany to put an end to the U-Boats and the British blockade
Shipyards used fabrication techniques. Standardized parts were built elsewhere and then assembled at the yard (reduced construction time substantially)
Government took over commercial and private ships and converted them to transatlantic war use
What was one of the main moral contributions that Americans provided to the Allies?
enthusiasm, freshness, and determination to beat the Germans
Nervousness and depression
Moral affection
Who lead the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) during WWI?
General John J. Pershing
Sergeant Alvin York
How were Pershing's infantry men nicknamed?
The Backstreet boys
The chosen ones
Doughboys
The fighters of liberty
What were the most innovative weapons during WWI?
Airplanes
Machine guns
Tanks
Yellow submarines
What were some of the new Hazards in WWI
Strokes
Filth
Lice
Rats
Polluted water → dysentery
Poison gas
Lack of sleep
Bombardments → battle fatigue
Shell shock: emotional collapse from which never recovered
Trench foot
Who was Alvin York?
war hero during the fightings in the Meuse-Argonne are by killing 32 Germans and capturing 132 prisoners with only a rifle and a revolver (plus 6 more doughboys)
founder of New York
Leader of the AEF
What is a conscientious objector?
a person who opposes welfare on moral grounds
A map drawer during WWI
What was the armistice?
The truce that ended WWI
The British' secret army
The most famous german U-Boat