Winning the Winning the WarWar

Motivation: Motivation: What was taking place in World What was taking place in World War I War I when the United States entered when the United States entered the war the war in 1917? in 1917?

Aim: How did the Allies win World War IAim: How did the Allies win World War I??

June 1917

• The first American troops reached France

• When the Americans arrived they saw the desperate situation of the allies who had lost millions of soldiers

• Many civilians in Britain and France were near starvation

American troops leaving for France

• Russia withdraws from the war

• A revolutionary group in Russia called the Bolsheviks seized control of the Russian government

• Bolsheviks were led by V.I. Lenin who wanted Russia to become Communist

November 1917

Bolsheviks in Russia

V.I. Lenin

March 1918

• Russia and Germany sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

• Treaty ended Russia’s participation in WWI

• The agreement called for Russia to give land to Germany German leaders heading to the

signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

June 1918

• American troops are reaching France in record numbers

• The American troops were under the command of General John J. Pershing

• Pershing would not let the Americans fight with the other Allies John J. Pershing

October 1918

• An armistice (an agreement to stop fighting) is signed by Germany and the Allies

• In return, Germany must accept President Wilson’s Plan for Peace and the German emperor must abdicate (give up his power)

• The armistice is signed on November 11, 1918

American troops celebrating the armistice

1918-1919

• A flu epidemic spreads around the world

• Between 1918-1919 500,000 Americans died from the flu. In total the flu killed more than 20 million people in the world.