U.S. History Ch. 11-2 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How did the United States raise an army?

Passed the Selective Service Act, instituted a draft and called for volunteers.

How did U.S. soldiers help win the war?

Enthusiasm and freshness; they stopped the German advances on Paris and helped win the Second Battle of the Marne.

How did the United States build its naval force?

Called for volunteers and instituted a draft under the Selective Service Act; exempted shipyard workers from being drafted and took over commercial and private ships.

How did the U.S. Navy help win the war?

Suggested and implemented the convoy system, and placed a barrier of mines into the North Sea. Signup and view all the answers

What new weapons of mechanized warfare threatened those in combat?

Machine guns, tanks, airplanes, gas distribution, zeppelins, and observation balloons. Signup and view all the answers

What did the war cost in terms of the number of civilian deaths?

Around 11 million more. Signup and view all the answers

What did the war cost in terms of the number of military deaths?

Around 11 million less. Signup and view all the answers

What did the war cost in terms of the number of injuries?

20 million. Signup and view all the answers

What did the war cost in terms of the number of refugees?

10 million. Signup and view all the answers

What were the estimated economic costs of the war?

$338 billion. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Alvin York?

A war hero who began as a conscientious objector. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conscientious objector?

A person who opposed war because of moral issues. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Eddie Rickenbacker?

America's ace pilot. Signup and view all the answers

How did America mobilize for war?

The Selective Service Act required men to register; statistics showed how the Navy mobilized, and the government aided in shipbuilding. Signup and view all the answers

How did new weapons change the fighting?

New weapons like tanks, airplanes, and improved machine guns made warfare more deadly. Signup and view all the answers

What heavy toll did the war take?

Claimed 22 million lives and had considerable estimated costs. Signup and view all the answers

Under the convoy system, a fleet of destroyers protected merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean.

True Signup and view all the answers

The leader of the American Expeditionary Forces was Eddie Rickenbacker.

False Signup and view all the answers

Alvin York became a hero at the Battle of Meuse-Argonne.

True Signup and view all the answers

Germany agreed to a cease-fire on January 1, 1919.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Raising an Army

The United States raised an army through the Selective Service Act, which instituted a draft and encouraged volunteer enlistment.

Contribution of U.S. Soldiers

U.S. soldiers brought enthusiasm and freshness to the battlefield; they played a vital role in halting German advances on Paris and contributed to winning the Second Battle of the Marne, turning the tide against the Central Powers.

Naval Force Expansion

The U.S. expanded its naval force by enlisting volunteers and utilizing the draft from the Selective Service Act, exempting shipyard workers from military duties and launching campaigns to emphasize their importance.
Commercial and private ships were requisitioned and converted for military use.

U.S. Navy's Strategic Impact

The U.S. Navy implemented the convoy system to protect merchant vessels and established a mine barrier in the North Sea to thwart U-boat access to the Atlantic.

Mechanized Warfare Innovations

Mechanized warfare introduced new threats including modernized machine guns, tanks, airplanes, gas distribution, zeppelins (gas-filled airships), and observation balloons.

Human Cost of the War

The war resulted in approximately 11 million civilian deaths.
Military deaths were around 11 million, while injuries totaled about 20 million.
The conflict created around 10 million refugees.

Economic Impact

The estimated economic costs of the war totaled $338 billion.

Notable Figures

Alvin York was recognized as a war hero who initially started as a conscientious objector.
A conscientious objector is someone who opposes war due to moral beliefs.
Eddie Rickenbacker emerged as America's leading ace pilot during the war.

Mobilization for War

The Selective Service Act required registration of men, resulting in 24 million registrations, with 3 million called to service.
Government support facilitated the construction of naval ships.

Evolution of Warfare Technology

New warfare technologies included advancements in tanks, improved airplanes, sophisticated machine guns, and lethal gasses, marking a shift to more deadly combat methods.

Overall Toll of the War

The total death toll from the war amounted to 22 million, reflecting significant human and economic costs.

Convoy System Effectiveness

The convoy system involved a fleet of destroyers providing protection for merchant ships traveling across the Atlantic Ocean.

Leadership of American Forces

General John J. Pershing led the American Expeditionary Forces, not Eddie Rickenbacker.

Notable Events

Alvin York gained fame for his heroics during the Battle of Meuse-Argonne.
Germany's agreement to a cease-fire came on November 11, 1918, not January 1, 1919.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering Chapter 11-2 of U.S. History. Learn how the United States raised an army and the pivotal role U.S. soldiers played in winning the war. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of key concepts in this chapter.