American Troops in World War I

By the end of 1916, the Allies and Germans were locked in a stalemate on the Western Front. Germany decided to use unrestricted submarine warfare to try and defeat the Allies by sea, knowing this would likely bring the US into the war. On April 6, 1917, the US joined the Allies, significantly boosting their forces. Germany gambled on a final offensive in spring 1918 to win before US troops arrived in full force. The first US Infantry Division, known as The Big Red One, quickly gained a reputation for effective fighting. Their training included long marches, bayonet work, and grenade throwing, which they excelled at due to their baseball skills. This training continued until they mastered both French and English warfare techniques.

What was the primary reason the Germans decided to focus on naval warfare by the end of 1916?

• They had a shortage of ground troops.

• They could not defeat the Western Allies on land.

• They had superior naval technology.

• They wanted to expand their empire overseas.

What was the main goal of the German unrestricted submarine warfare?

• To destroy the American fleet

• To starve the British Isles into submission

• To blockade the Mediterranean Sea

• To capture French ports

When did the United States officially enter World War I?

• November 11, 1918

• April 6, 1917

• July 4, 1916

• May 1, 1918

How many American troops were in France by July 1918?

• 2,000,000

• 1,000,000

• 500,000

• 100,000

What was the German strategy in the spring of 1918?

• To defeat the British and French before American forces arrived in full strength

• To launch a major offensive on the Eastern Front

• To negotiate peace with the Allies

• To focus on air warfare

Which was the first US fighting unit sent to France in 1917?

• The Big Red One

• The Blue Division

• The Green Berets

• The Black Watch

What reputation did The Big Red One quickly establish?

• For hard fighting and effectiveness

• For being the most technologically advanced

• For having the most soldiers

• For being the oldest military unit

How many men were inducted into the US Army by the end of the Great War?

• 3 million

• 500,000

• 1 million

• 2 million

What was a key component of the American troops' training?

• Learning to fly aircraft

• Long marches and bayonet work

• Naval combat exercises

• Building fortifications

Why did American soldiers excel in using hand grenades?

• They used advanced technology

• Their experience with baseball

• They were trained by the British

• They had prior military experience