The U.S. Enters World War I

1. How did the United States raise an army?
In order to gather enough men to create an effective army, Congressed passed the Secret Service Act. This forced men to register for the draft - they would then be selected at random to be sent into the war. Soldiers trained for hours every day, in order to prepare for battle.

2. How did U.S. soldiers help win the war?
First, America suggested that Britain use the convoy system to cut down on shipping losses (this worked very well). Next, the US created a 230 mile blockade from northern Scotland to Novia Scotia to prevent German U-Boats from going into the Atlantic. The American soldiers were greatly useful: fresh and passionate, they had an energy that the European soldiers who had been fighting for years already lacked. After Russia pulled out of the war, the Americans were highly influential in fighting Germany out of France. With their help, the tide quickly turned.

3. What were the estimated economic costs of the war?
The estimated economic cost of the war was $338 billion.

4. What did the war cost in terms of the number of civilian deaths; military deaths?; injuries?; and refugees?

Civilian deaths: 11 million
Military deaths: 11 million

Injuries: 20 million

Refugees: 10 million

5. Define armistice.

An armistice is a truce or peace agreement that ends a conflict.