Section 2 1917 army and National Guard combined had around 300,000 troops Many more were needed for war Progressives, who were still in power, believed a draft was a violation of democratic and republican beliefs Conscription- forced military service Congress realized a draft was needed Created a new conscription system called selective service Selective Service Act required all men between to register for the draft A lottery randomly selected the order 2.8 million Americans were drafted; 2 million more volunteered Selective Service Act required all men between to register for the draft A lottery randomly selected the order 2.8 million Americans were drafted; 2 million more volunteered Soldiers train for 8 months, often drill with fake weapons Nearly 400,000 African Americans were drafted 42,000 served overseas as combat troops African Americans encountered many challenges Encountered discrimination Encountered prejudice Segregated units with white officers Fought with distinction in the war Many won praise from Marshal Henri Petain (French commander) and General John Pershing (U.S. Commander) Entire 369 th Infantry Division won highly prized French decoration, Croix de Guerre (war cross) WWI was first war in which women officially served in the armed forcesonly noncombat though Prior to WWI women worked as auxiliaries to men Most men were called to active duty 1917 navy authorized the enlistment of women By end of the war 11,000 women served in the navy Womens tasks: Clerical duties (nurses) Radio operators Electricians Pharmacists Photographers Chemists Torpedo assemblers U.S. needs to convert industry to support war effort Shipyards began using standardized parts to cut down on construction time Convoy system- merchant ships and troop transports would be gathered into small groups and escorted across the Atlantic by warships This kept the German U-boats from firing upon them Allies were exhausted American forces bring enthusiasm and freshness back to the war Americans were shocked by the horrors of war and amazed by the new technology in weapons Tanks (1 st introduced by the British) Machine guns Poisons Gases (Mustard and Chlorine) Planes (American ace Eddie Rickenbacker / dogfights) Observation Balloons Barbwire Grenade Launchers Flame Throwers U-Boats (Unteerseeboots) 1916 the British introduced the tank into battle First tank was very slow, mechanically unreliable, and easy to destroy Could roll over barbed wire and trenches Not enough of them to make a difference Chlorine and mustard gas was first used in WWI Fumes caused vomiting, blindness, and suffocation Germans were the first to use gas Allies followed close behind Gas mask became a necessary part of soldiers equipment WWI saw first use of airplanes in combat Planes used mainly to observe enemy activities Later used to drop small bombs Later attached machine guns to aircraft to engage in air battles known as dogfights Early offensives of 1914 showed nature of war had changed from in line fighting to trench warfare Troops dug in and relied on the modern rifle and a new weapon-rapid fire machine gun Space between the opposing trenches was known as no mans land KEEP YOUR FEET DRY Collapse of Germany: November 3, 1918, Austria-Hungary surrenders to Allies German sailors, soldiers rebel; socialists establish German republic Kaiser gives up throne Germans exhausted; armistice, or truce, signed November 11, 1918 Final Toll: World War I bloodiest war in history to date 22 million dead (Half are civilians) 20 million more are wounded 10 million people become refugees