Battle of Cantigny Cantigny is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.Cantigny
World War I
World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Contemporaneously described as, "the war to end all wars," it led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military pers…
Battle of Belleau Wood
The Battle of Belleau Wood occurred during the German Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces against an assortment of German units including elements from the 237th…
Full Answer
What was the worst battle in WW1?
The Battle of the Somme, One of the Worst WW1 Battles Ever. INSTANT ARTICLES; WORLD WAR I; Jul 19, 2017 Andrew Knighton, Guest Author. One of the most destructive events of the First World War, the Battle of the Somme was a 142-day campaign including a series of smaller battles. To the British, it is symbolic of how World War One was fought.
What were the most significant battles of World War 1?
- February 21-December 18: Battle of Verdun - Western Front
- May 31-June 1: Battle of Jutland - At Sea
- July 1-November 18: Battle of the Somme - Western Front
- August 3-5: Battle of Romani - Middle East
- December 23: Battle of Magdhaba - Middle East
What are the most famous battles in US history?
The Most Important Battles in US History
- Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway was a crucial and decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.
- Invasion of Normandy
- Battle of Gettysburg. Commanders: George Meade, Robert E. ...
- Siege of Yorktown. ...
- Battles of Saratoga. ...
- Battles of Lexington and Concord. ...
- Attack on Pearl Harbor. ...
- Battle of the Bulge
- Battle of Trenton. ...
- Battle of Bunker Hill. ...
What battles were turning points is in WW1?
There were many key events and decisive battles that ultimately contributed to the allied victory in the war, some of the major ones were: The Battle of Jutland- This naval engagement was a strategic victory for the British navy and cemented allied control over the high seas.
What event got the US involved in ww1?
The US entered World War I because Germany embarked on a deadly gamble. Germany sank many American merchant ships around the British Isles which prompted the American entry into the war.
What was the biggest battle the US fought in World war 1?
Battles of the Meuse-Argonne: September 26 to November 11, 1918. More than 1 million Americans soldiers take part in the Battles of the Meuse-Argonne in France's dense Forest of Argonne and along the Meuse River, making it the American Expeditionary Forces' biggest World War I operation.
How many battles did us fight in ww1?
The United States campaigns in World War I began after American entry in the war in early April 1917. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) served on the Western Front, under General John J. Pershing, and engaged in 13 official military campaigns between 1917 and 1918, for which campaign streamers were designated.
Where did USA fight in ww1?
On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France. Many Americans were not in favor of the U.S. entering the war and wanted to remain neutral.
What key battles did America fight in in ww1?
Armistice Day.Armistice Day Centennial.Battle of Cantigny.Battle of Belleau Wood.Battle of the Marne.Battle of St. Mihiel.Battle of the Argonne.Harlem Hellfighters.
Did any Americans fight at the Somme?
On April 2, U.S. General John J. Pershing sent American troops down into the trenches to help defend Paris and repulse the German offensive. It was the first major deployment of U.S. troops in World War I. Several thousand American troops fought alongside the British and French in the Second Battle of Somme.
How many U.S. troops lost their lives in ww1?
117,000World War 1 casualtiesEntente PowersPopulation (million)Total number of deadUnited States of America98.8117,000Australia4.561,966New Zealand1.118,052Central PowersPopulation (million)Total number of dead15 more rows
Did the US win the Battle of Cantigny?
In the first sustained American offensive of World War I, an Allied force including a full brigade of nearly 4,000 United States soldiers captures the village of Cantigny, on the Somme River in France, from their German enemy.
What battles were fought in the summer of 1918?
Cambrai is considerd a primarily British battle. Somme Defensive (March 21, 1918 - Apri1 6, 1918) Battle of Lys (April 9 - 27, 1918) Belleau Wood Campaign- In the summer of 1918, the Germans were able to transfer 50 army divisions to the Western Front due to the surrender of the Russians on the Eastern Front.
What was the first and only offensive launched by the United States Army in World War I without any other Allied participation?
Hundred Days Offensive. Battle of St. Mihiel (September 12 - 16, 1918)-This was first and only offensive launched by the United States Army in World War I without any other Allied participation. This Amercan attack caught the Germans by surprise and was a success.
What was the second Battle of the Marne?
Second Battle of The Marne (July 18 - August 6, 1918)-After the failure of the Spring, 1918 German Offensive, the Germans launched what would be their last offensive on the Western Front in the Second Battle of the Marne. The German offensive was halted by combined British, French, and American forces. Following this Allied victory, the Allies ...
What was the Vittorio Veneto offensive?
Vittorio Veneto Offensive (October 24, 1918 - November 4,1918)-The only U.S. ground action not on the Western Front. The 332nd U.S. Infantry Regiment took part in the Italian campaign against Austria-Hungary in the Italian Alps.
Who was the first American to see combat in France?
Harry Truman was an artillery officer and saw battle in France. Dwight Eisenhower was an Army officer during World War One, but served stateside and did not see combat. Battle of Cambrai (November 20, 1917- December 4, 1917)-American forces had just recently begun arriving in France, and, though this was the first combat for U.S.
When was the Battle of Belleau Wood?
The Battle of Belleau Wood (June 1-26, 1918)- U.S. Army and Marine Corps troops engaged the Germans
What battle did the 3rd Division fight in?
West of the town the 2nd Division, which included a Marine brigade, defended the road to Paris, and on 6 June successfully counterattacked in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
How many American troops were in the First Army?
Total Allied forces involved in the offensive numbered more than 650,000 – some 550,000 American and 100,000 Allied (mostly French) troops. In support of the attack the First Army had over 3,000 guns, 400 French tanks, and 1,500 airplanes. COL William Mitchell directed the heterogeneous air force, composed of British, French, Italian, Portuguese, and American units, in what proved to be the largest single air operation of the war. American squadrons flew 609 of the airplanes, which were mostly of French or British manufacture.
What was Foch's main objective in 1918?
He proposed that the immediate objective of the Allied offensive should be the reduction of the three main German salients (Marne, Amiens, St. Mihiel), with the goal of improving lateral communications behind the front in preparation for a general offensive in the fall. Reduction of the St. Mihiel salient was assigned to Pershing at his own request.
How did the Aisne-Marne offensive end?
By 6 August the Aisne-Marne Offensive was over. The threat to Paris was ended by wiping out the Marne salient. The initiative now had definitely passed to the Allies, ending any possibility that Ludendorff could carry out his planned offensive in Flanders. Moreover, the success of the offensive revealed the advantages of Allied unity of command and the fighting qualities of American units. The eight A.E.F. divisions (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 26th, 28th, 32d, 42d) in the action had spearheaded much of the advance, demonstrating offensive capabilities that helped to inspire new confidence in the war-weary Allied armies. About 270,000 Americans took part in the battle.
What was the second phase of the German campaign?
In the second phase (4–31 October) the First Army, after the inexperienced divisions had been replaced by veteran units, slowly ground its way through the third German line . The enemy was forced to throw in reserves, drawn from other parts of the front, thus aiding the Allied advances elsewhere. In the face of a stubborn defense, American gains were limited and casualties were severe, especially as a result of the newly devised enemy tactic of attacking frontline troops with airplanes. First Army air units retaliated with bombing raids which broke up German preparations for counterattacks. By the end of October the enemy had been cleared from the Argonne and First Army troops were through the German main positions. Two notable incidents of this phase of the campaign were the fight of the "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Division (2–7 October), and the feat of CPL (later SGT) Alvin C. York, who single-handedly killed 15 Germans and captured 132 on 8 October.
Where was the Second Army formed?
In mid-October the organization of the Second Army was completed, at Toul in the St. Mihiel sector, to provide means for better control of the lengthening American front and solutions of the diverse tactical problems that it presented. Pershing assumed command of the new army group thus formed.
What was Operation Michael?
Main article: Operation Michael. The German High Command decided to attack on the British-held Somme front in the direction of Amiens. A breakthrough at this point would separate the French from the British, push the latter into a pocket in Flanders, and open the way to the Channel ports.
How many men were drafted into the army in 1917?
After the passage of the Selective Service Act in 1917, it drafted 4 million men into military service.
What did Wilson ask Congress for in 1917?
Wilson then asked Congress for "a war to end all wars " that would "make the world safe for democracy", and Congress voted to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
How did Wilson try to maintain neutrality while fighting off the submarines?
At first, Wilson tried to maintain neutrality while fighting off the submarines by arming American merchant ships with guns powerful enough to sink German submarines on the surface (but useless when the U-boats were under water). After submarines sank seven US merchant ships, Wilson finally went to Congress calling for a declaration of war on Germany, which Congress voted on April 6, 1917.
Why did American public opinion change in 1917?
Opinion changed gradually, partly in response to German actions in Belgium and the Lusitania, partly as German Americans lost influence, and partly in response to Wilson's position that America had to play a role to make the world safe for democracy.
Who was the German foreign minister who invited Mexico to join the war?
The German Foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann invited revolution-torn Mexico to join the war as Germany's ally against the United States if the United States declared war on Germany in the Zimmermann Telegram.
Was the US Navy in shape for war?
In reality, neither the US Army nor US Navy was in shape for war in terms of manpower, size, military hardware or experience. The Navy had fine ships but Wilson had been using them to threaten Mexico, and the fleet's readiness had suffered. The crews of the Texas and the New York, the two newest and largest battleships, had never fired a gun, and the morale of the sailors was low. The Army and Navy air forces were tiny in size. Despite the flood of new weapons systems unveiled in the war in Europe, the Army was paying scant attention. For example, it was making no studies of trench warfare, poison gas or tanks, and was unfamiliar with the rapid evolution of aerial warfare. The Democrats in Congress tried to cut the military budget in 1915. The Preparedness movement effectively exploited the surge of outrage over the "Lusitania" in May 1915, forcing the Democrats to promise some improvements to the military and naval forces. Wilson, less fearful of the Navy, embraced a long-term building program designed to make the fleet the equal of the British Royal Navy by the mid-1920s, although this would not come to pass until World War II. "Realism" was at work here; the admirals were Mahanians and they therefore wanted a surface fleet of heavy battleships second to none—that is, equal to Great Britain. The facts of submarine warfare (which necessitated destroyers, not battleships) and the possibilities of imminent war with Germany (or with Britain, for that matter), were simply ignored.
Which countries fought in the Great War?
Within a week, Russia, France, Belgium, Great Britain and Serbia had sided against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and the Great War, as it came to be known, was underway. Germany and Austria-Hungary later teamed with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria and were referred to collectively as the Central Powers.
What happened in 1916?
In March 1916, a German U-boat torpedoed a French passenger ship, the Sussex, killing dozens of people, including several Americans. Afterward, the U.S. threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Germany.
What did the British give to President Wilson?
The British gave President Wilson the Zimmerman telegram on February 24, and on March 1 the U.S. press reported on its existence. The American public was outraged by the news of the Zimmerman telegram and it, along with Germany’s resumption of submarine attacks, helped lead to the U.S. to join the war.
What did the Germans promise to do in 1917?
In response, the Germans issued the Sussex pledge, promising to stop attacking merchant and passenger ships without warning. However, on January 31, 1917, the Germans reversed course, announcing they would resume unrestricted submarine warfare, reasoning it would help them win the war before America, which was relatively unprepared for battle, could join the fighting on behalf of the Allies.
How many people were inducted into the military during the Civil War?
That May, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which reinstated the draft for the first time since the Civil War and led to some 2.8 million men being inducted into the U.S. military by the end of the Great War. Around 2 million more Americans voluntarily served in the armed forces during the conflict.
Who declared war on Germany?
The U.S. Declares War on Germany. When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the United States would remain neutral, and many Americans supported this policy of nonintervention. However, public opinion about neutrality started to change after the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by ...
Who declared America neutral?
On August 4, as World War I erupted across Europe, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed America’s neutrality, stating the nation “must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men’s souls.”
What is the significance of WW1?
WW1 dates. To Goemans, World War I illustrates a modern insight into the nature of war—that it basically takes two sides to fight. One side can always capitulate or accede to the other side’s demands, trying to avoid war. It raises the question of why all players decide to fight.
When did the US declare war on Germany?
A hundred years ago, on April 6, 1917, Congress thus voted to declare war on Germany, joining the bloody battle—then optimistically called the “Great War.”. “The U.S. declaration of war, in essence, was a recognition of the fact that Germany had chosen to impose a very risky gamble on the U.S.—risky for Germany, ...
What was the catalyst for World War I?
The assassination, while ultimately a scape goat, became the catalyst for the start of World War I, exactly one month later. By the end of 1915, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire were battling against the Allied Powers of Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, and Japan.
What did Wilson ask Congress for in 1917?
In early April 1917, with the toll in sunken U.S. merchant ships and civilian casualties rising, Wilson asked Congress for “a war to end all wars” that would “make the world safe for democracy.”.
Who was the expert on conflict points out that Germany was aware that its unrestricted submarine warfare would provoke America?
IN THIS EPISODE OF THE QUADCAST: In an interview with associate professor of political science Hein Goemans, the expert on conflict points out that Germany was aware that its unrestricted submarine warfare would provoke America to enter WWI.
When was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I?
The Students Army Training Corps at the University of Rochester in 1917. November 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the World War I. (University photo / Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation)
Which country sank many American merchant ships around the British Isles which prompted the American entry into the war?
Germany sank many American merchant ships around the British Isles which prompted the American entry into the war.
When did the first American soldiers arrive in France?
Although the first American soldiers landed in France in June 1917, it would take a year to create, train and equip an army and ship it across the Atlantic. The outcome of the war would turn on whether Germany could defeat Britain and France before the Americans arrived in force.
Who was the first American commander?
The first elements of the American Expeditionary Forces, under the command of General John J. Pershing, arrived in France in June 1917, but they lacked the numbers and training to be committed to combat. There was also debate over how the AEF would be deployed. The Allies argued for the piecemeal assignment of American units to British and French armies; Pershing was adamant that the AEF would field an independent army under American command.
What was Germany's plan to defeat the British and French?
Germany planned to quickly defeat the British and French to the west before turning its full force east to Russia, but its initial thrusts into Belgium and northern France were checked. By the end of 1914, 400 miles of trench lines – the Western Front – stretched from Switzerland to the North Sea.
Who was the president of the United States in 1916?
In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson won re-election on the slogan “He kept us out of war.” But in April 1917, Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, along with its offer to help Mexico recover territories lost to the United States in 1848, led Wilson to ask Congress to declare war on Germany. American entry came none too soon. The British were running out of men, almost half of the French army had mutinied, and the Russian Revolution in 1917 would lead to Russia’s withdrawal from the war, allowing Germany to shift troops to the Western Front.
What was the purpose of the Spring Offensive?
The situation changed in early 1918 when Germany launched its “Spring Offensive,” intended to end the war before the Allies were reinforced by millions of Americans. At the peak of the crisis, Pershing relented and assigned American divisions to hard-pressed Allied armies.
What was the first battle of World War I?
Image taken from the book First Over There: The Attack on Cantigny, America’s First Battle of World War I. The 1st Division’s troops won their objective, becoming the first American unit of the war to conquer enemy territory. In the two-and-a-half day fight that followed, the doughboys who held their ground against repeated German counterattacks ...
Who was the first American soldier to use artillery?
On its stage many of America’s great battle captains first emerged, George C. Marshall and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. among them. And tactically, the operation previewed modern military methods, marking the first time American soldiers fought with the intricate support of artillery, machine guns, flamethrowers, grenades, gas, tanks, and airplanes, ...
What was the significance of the Battle of Cantigny?
Measured against the grand battles that preceded and followed, the fight for Cantigny was small. And although it symbolized the first American dent in the impregnable armor of the Western Front, the ground gained was strategically inconsequential and any local benefits almost imperceptible. But Cantigny proved Americans could fight, something their Allies doubted and the Germans had been bent on disproving. It was the nation’s first attack on the German Army, a clash between two world powers that would see many bloodier fights over the next twenty-seven years. On its stage many of America’s great battle captains first emerged, George C. Marshall and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. among them. And tactically, the operation previewed modern military methods, marking the first time American soldiers fought with the intricate support of artillery, machine guns, flamethrowers, grenades, gas, tanks, and airplanes, signifying the establishment of combined arms and the birth of our modern Army. Thus May 28, 1918 was the U.S. military’s coming-of-age—the day it crossed a historical no-man’s-land that separated contemporary fighting methods from the muskets and cannon of the nineteenth century.
Is World War 1 a sepia-toned war?
World War I is our most recent war with no surviving participants , and a gauzy, sepia-toned mythology has settled over the doughboy experience, a narrative that deserves to be revisited in full color, and anchored in the reality that success in the battle—as in the war—was not inevitable.
What was the first battle fought on the Eastern Front?
The August of 1914 Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russian and German soldiers. It is notable for being the first battle fought in the war to be fought on the Eastern Front.
What battles did the British take over Ypres?
The battles of Menin, Road Ridge and Polygon Wood on 26th September as well as the Battle of Broodseinde on October 4th had the British capture the ridge east of Ypres. On November 6 the little of what remained of Passchendaele village was captured by the British and Canadian forces.
What happened on July 1st 1916?
On July 1st, the French and British launched an offensive on Somme, thereby relieving the German pressure on French troops at Verdun. The Germans tried to take over Verdun on July 11 and 12 and failed. In 1916 autumn the French counter-attacked and recaptured Fort Douaumont, and a few days later entered Fort Vaux which the Germans had deserted. From December 15th to 18th, the French attacked and nearly retook territory they had lost since February 21st. After the battle ended there were over 700,000 victims - 305,000 dead or missing and about 400,000 wounded on both warring sides.
How many casualties did Haig have in the Battle of Passchendaele?
The three month battle of Passchendaele had 325,000 British and allied casualties and 260,000 German casualties. 4.
What was the positive of the Battle of Tannenberg?
The only positive from the Battle of Tannenberg was diverting the Germans from attacking France. That allowed the French to counter-attack at the First Battle of Marne. 9. First Battle of Marne (September of 1914) In September of 1914, the First Battle of Marne marked the end of German incursion into France and the beginning ...
What was the Battle of Passchendaele?
Also called the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Passchendaele gained notoriety not only for its many casualties but also for the widespread mud. This battle was fought in Ypres, a town along the British lines. Field Marshal Douglas Haig longed for a British offensive in Flanders after a warning that a German blockade would cripple the British war efforts. He wanted to get to the Belgian coast and destroy German submarines stationed there. The British were further spurred on by the success of an attack on the Messines Ridge on June 1917, and its capture. The British infantry began to attack on the 31st of July at Ypres. The constant shelling turned the clay into soil and destroyed drainage systems. The left wing of the attack was successful unlike the right wing. In the few following days the heaviest rains in 30 years turned the turned the loose soil into mud which clogged rifles, and halted tanks’ movements. Many men and horses drowned in this mud.
How many people died in the Battle of Gallipoli?
The Battle of Gallipoli saw 58,000 Allied soldiers’ casualties. These included 29,000 British and Irish soldiers, and 11,000 Australians and New Zealanders. There also were about Ottoman Turkish troops that died and about 300,000 wounded troops from either side.
Overview
Aisne-Marne, 18 July – 6 August 1918
• Several days before the Germans launched their abortive Champagne-Marne drive, the French high command had made plans for a general converging offensive against the Marne salient. Petain issued orders on 12 July for the attack to begin on the 18th, with five French armies – the Tenth, Sixth, Ninth, Fifth, and Fourth, placed around the salient from left to right – taking part. Spearheading the attack were the five divisions of the French XX Corps (Tenth Army), including t…
Cambrai, 20 November – 7 December 1917
The year the United States entered World War I was marked by near disaster for the Allies on all the European fronts. A French offensive in April, with which the British cooperated, was a failure, and was followed by widespread mutinies in the French armies. The British maintained strong pressure on their front throughout the year; but British attacks at Messines Ridge (7 June), at Passchendaele (31 July), and at Cambrai (20 November) failed in their main objective–the captur…
Somme Defensive, 21 March – 6 April 1918
• The German High Command decided to attack on the British-held Somme front in the direction of Amiens. A breakthrough at this point would separate the French from the British, push the latter into a pocket in Flanders, and open the way to the Channel ports
• The German spring offensive began on 21 March 1918 with three German armies (about 62 divisions in all) in the assault. British defense lines were pierced in rapid succession. By 26 March Amiens was seriously threat…
Lys, 9–27 April 1918
• Ludendorff still hoped to destroy the damaged British Expeditionary Force (BEF) before it had a chance to recover from the effects of the Somme drive. This was the goal of a new German attack launched on 9 April 1918 on a narrow front along the Lys River in Flanders. The Germans committed 46 divisions to the assault, and, using Hutier attacks once again, quickly scored a breakthrough. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the BEF, issued his …
Aisne, 27 May – 5 June 1918
• The next major German attack was on the 27th of March in the thinly held but formidable terrain along the Aisne River known as the Chemin des Dames. The original objective of this new offensive was to draw southward the Allied reserves accumulated back of the British sector, in preparation for a final German attempt to destroy the British Army in Flanders. The French and Britis…
Montdidier-Noyon, 9–13 June 1918
Ludendorff followed up his stalled Aisne offensive with a small-scale drive in the Montdidier-Noyon sector on 9 June 1918. Twenty-one German divisions attacked the French on a twenty-three mile front extending from Montdidier to the Oise River. The French anticipated the assault and contained it after a nine-mile (14 km) penetration by the Germans, counterattacking strongly. The fighting was over by 12 June, and the enemy had little to show for the heavy losses incurred…
Champagne-Marne, 15–18 July 1918
In the four great offensives from 21 March to 13 June 1918 the Germans gained considerable ground, but failed to achieve a decisive advantage at any point on the front. Furthermore, success was bought at a price in manpower and material which they could ill afford. Their more than 600,000 casualties were irreplaceable, whereas the Allied loss of some 800,000 men was soon more than compensated for by new American units arriving at the front in ever-mounting numbe…
Overview
The United States declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after World War I started. A ceasefire and Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918. Before entering the war, the U.S. had remained neutral, though it had been an important supplier to the United Kingdom, France, and the other powers of the Allies of World War I.
American military
As late as 1917, the United States maintained only a small army, one which was in fact smaller than those of thirteen of the states already active in the war. After the passage of the Selective Service Act in 1917, it drafted 4 million men into military service. By the summer of 1918, about 2 million U.S. soldiers had arrived in France, about half of whom eventually saw front-line service; by the Armistic…
Beginning
The American entry into World War I came on April 6, 1917, after a year long effort by President Woodrow Wilson to get the United States into the war. Apart from an Anglophile element urging early support for the British, American public opinion sentiment for neutrality was particularly strong among Irish Americans, German Americans and Scandinavian Americans, as well as among church lea…
Neutrality
After the war began in 1914, the United States proclaimed a policy of neutrality despite President Woodrow Wilson's antipathies against the German Empire.
When the German U-boat U-20 sank the British liner Lusitania on 7 May 1915 with 128 U.S. citizens aboard, Wilson demanded an end to German attacks on passenger ships, and warned that the USA would not tolerate unrestricted sub…
Public opinion
American public opinion was divided, with most Americans until early 1917 largely of the opinion that the United States should stay out of the war. Opinion changed gradually, partly in response to German actions in Belgium and the Lusitania, partly as German Americans lost influence, and partly in response to Wilson's position that America had to play a role to make the world safe for de…
Preparedness movement
By 1915 Americans were paying much more attention to the war. The sinking of the Lusitania aroused furious denunciations of German brutality. In Eastern cities a new "Preparedness" movement emerged. It argued that the United States needed to build up immediately strong naval and land forces for defensive purposes; an unspoken assumption was that America would fight sooner or la…
War declared
In January 1917, the German Empire resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in hopes of forcing Britain to begin peace talks. The German Foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann invited revolution-torn Mexico to join the war as the German Empire's ally against the United States if the United States declared war on the German Empire in the Zimmermann Telegram. In return, the Germans would se…
Home front
The home front required a systematic mobilization of the entire population and the entire economy to produce the soldiers, food supplies, munitions, and money needed to win the war. It took a year to reach a satisfactory state. Although the war had already raged for two years, Washington had avoided planning, or even recognition of the problems that the British and other Allies h…