100 hundred years ago the
world witnessed a war so horrific, so widespread that they called it “the
War to end all wars” or simply the Great War. With the anniversary of the United States
participation in World War 1 coming up next year I would encourage you all to
visit a museum explaining the war and America’s part in it.
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| 9th Machine Gun Battalion |
Most Americans were opposed to entering the
European war, so much so that Woodrow Wilson won his second term in office
under the idea that “the president kept us out of war.”[3] January 19, 1917 the
British presented America a telegram that had been sent from Germany to Mexico
proposing an alliance. Between this
revelation and the unrestricted submarine warfare conducted by Germany against
all shipping between America and Britain, the pacifism was turning to a demand
for war. On February 3rd, the American grain ship, Housatonic, was sunk and three weeks
later a British liner was sunk killing four Americans. Two months later on April
6th the United States declared war on Germany. [2]
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4,000,000 military
personnel mobilized during WW1. The
Argonne-Meuse Offensive, starting on September 26, 1918 was the largest battle
that US troops participated in during the war. [1] Approximately 1.2 million
American troops fought from September to November by the end 26, 277 American
soldiers had died in the battle. [2]
On October 4th Wilson received a message
from Germany to conduct peace talks according to his 14 points. The war ended on November 11, 1918. [2]
The list provided is just a small sampling of museums
around the country. Take a road trip to one of these or find one closer to you.
WW1 should not be forgotten. Find a Museum or exhibit that honors the sacrifice
of the 50,000 men killed and an additional 230,000 wounded. [2]
The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO https://www.theworldwar.org
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, VA http://www.woodrowwilson.org
Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, MO http://www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu/WWI
The Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA https://www.museumofflight.org/WWI
American Armored Foundation Tank Museum in Danville,
VA http://www.aaftankmuseum.com/
Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, Ill http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/
Bibliography
[1] Paul S. Boyer, Clifford E. Clark, Jr., Joseph F.
Kett Neal Salisbury, Harvard Sitkoff, Nancy Woloch, Enduring Vision: A History of the American People Sixth ed. (Boston,
MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009), 700-701.
[2] H.P. Willmott, World
War I (New York: DK Publishing, 2009), 196, 264-265, 307.
[3] A. Scott Berg, Wilson
(New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2013), 410-411.
Image C. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/ww1posters/5041
Image D. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/ww1posters/5041
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