John,+Jenna,+Ashley,+Nyasja

Throughout the past few years there has been an intense war going on between our allies. I personally voted to re-elect Wilson because he has kept us out of the war. We have been able to remain neutral through all of this. I am a solider in the US army. I can't leave now, I have a family to provide for. It wasn't until January that there has been talk about declaring war on Germany due to the Zimmmerman Telegram. I thought Wilson was keeping us out of war? What happened to our plan of staying neutral? Why would he lend money and weapons to Great Britain and France knowing it would fire up Germany? Well, it seems as if I'm being sent to war in the next couple of days. War was actually declared on Germany yesterday. I only pray to survive so I can return home safe to my family. I will write again soon.
 * Journal Entries:**
 * __ April 7, 1917 __**

-Jenna Cardello

__June 28, 1917__ Today was like any other day. We, the United States, were stuck in our trenches fighting with the Germans, Austria-Hungarians, and the other Central Powers. I saw a few men go down today from the rapid fire. They didn’t see it coming. We had to drag the bodies from the fighting lines to the back of the trench. The smell has become worse. It smells like dead carcasses. It’s the most hideous smell I have ever smelled in my life. Rats are the main cause of death besides the utility fire going back and forth. Then there are some of us who get trench foot. Trench foot is hard to treat. The nurses amputated many people’s feet, legs, arms, etc. That is a big disadvantage on our side. Hopefully, the other planks will come and help us. We need all the help we can get since we are losing soldiers left and right. I need to go set up for today’s battles. I’ll write later.

-Ashley Knaub

__October 12, 1917__ Today I saw more of my friends die of influenza. I hope I don't get sick. More men are dying from this in the battlefield than from the hardships of war. Watching them die from the disease is horrible.It is a shame that people are dying for the wrong reasons. In the two years that the flu has been around it killed people my age and this is so sad. "1918 would go down as unforgettable year of suffering and death and yet of peace" is a quote that shows how sad it was to have my friends die so close to the end of the war.

-Nyasia __November 5, 1917__ Today is colder than I've ever felt before in my life. Funny thing is I have absolutely no idea where I am at right now. I guess I'm writing this hoping that somebody will find it and pity me because nobody ever really survives war. I've seen things that no man should ever have to lay eyes on. I've had friends, cousins, even my own brother die in my arms. To tell you the truth I don't know why I keep fighting. Sometimes the thought crosses my mind that it might just be better to die. I guess the only thing that keeps me going is the thought of seeing my family again. Even if by some miracle I survive and make it home I know that nothing will go back to normal. After this nothing can ever be the same.

-John Raffensberger

Timeline: http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/WWI-9

Cartoon: http://www.toondoo.com/privateView.toon?param=CTfqihmA1no3NM4u7qaVxfDnuxtgKdflLUZg%2BhTYJbu1KMJ%2ByHBdZA%3D%3D 

The Zimmerman Telegram At first, the United States wanted to remain neutral during the war. However, the US was a factor in the war because they had an agreement with the aIlies called the Lend-Lease Act. Germany needed to figure out a way to keep the US preoccupied with their own homeland so they wouldn't help out as much with the war between Germany and the allies as much. Germany then came up with a plan. In February of 1917, Germany sent a telegram to Mexico. This telegram stated that if Mexico would help out during the war, they in return would help Mexico take over some on the United States' land which they had lost in a previous war. Consequently, Great Britain intercepted this telegram and were able to interpret what it was saying. They then reported the news to the US. The US knew they had to take some kind of action. On April 6, 1917, the US declared war on Germany and joined the allies. (by: Jenna)

The Great Epidemic Flu In the pockets of some areas around the world, a type of illness broke out. In only two years, this illness, now referred to as the "Great Epidemic Flu" affected one fifth of the world's population. The flu was most deadly to people from age 20 to age 40. Of the U.S. soldiers who died in Europe, half of them fell to the influenza virus and not to the enemy. An estimated 43,000 servicemen who mobilized for WWI died in 1918, which would go down as an unforgettable year of suffering and death and yet of peace. (by: Jenna)  

Schlieffen Plan This plan was created years before the war. Germany wanted to split up their troops and take control over Russia and France. Germany wanted to go through Belgium to get to France, but it took them over six weeks to get through since the Belgium army fought and stalled the Germans. In the mean time, Great Britain were able to send troops to help. Count Alfred von Schlieffen was the one who came up with this plan to overtake Russia and France. He was the Chief of the Great General Staff in the year of 1891. He eventually found that this plan was ineffective and soon his plan was destroyed. (by: Ashley)

Trench warfare Trenches were built to ensure safety during battle and the firing of enemy fire. Some soldiers died on the first day of fighting due to rapid fire. Rats were one of the main reasons why soldiers died in trenches. Black and brown rats were found, but the brown rat was feared the most. Brown rats ate the corpses and sometimes grew to the size of a cat. Soldiers would rid of them by shooting them, using a bayonet, and went as far as clubbing them to death. The rats would produce up to 900 offspring a year causing the trench to be full of rats. Lice was also an issue. Their eggs were deep in the soldiers clothes and no matter how often they washed their clothes, they never came out. Many soldiers developed trench foot. Trench Foot was another medical condition peculiar to trench life, it was a fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions. It often led to amputation. (by: Ashley)

Doughboys 'Doughboys' was the nickname given to the American Expeditionary Force that took part in the later years of World War 1. At some point between April 1917 and November 1918, the word expanded to include the whole American armed forces. The term was not used in a derogatory sense. The actual origin of the term 'Doughboy' is still debated within both US historical and military circles, but it dates back to at least the American-Mexican War of 1846. However, when US serviceman returned to Europe during the Second World War, the term doughboy had vanished: they were now called GI’s. (by: Ashley)  The Lend-Lease Act America decided that they wanted to remain neutral during the war. However, some did take sides. Most American's supported the allies. This is where the Lend-Lease Act came into place. America lended the allies money and weapons so they could continue to fight in the war. (by: Jenna)

 The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire. Franz Ferdinand was, however, very unpopular because he had made it clear that once he became Emperor he would make changes. Two bullets were fired in 1914 which set in motion a series of events that shaped the world we live in today. The victims were Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. The couple was returning from an official visit to City Hall. The assassin burned with the fire of Slavic nationalism. He envisioned the death of the Archduke as the key that would unlock the shackles binding his people to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from German leader, Kaiser Wilhelm, that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian intervention—which would likely involve Russia’s ally, France, and possibly Britain as well. On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the tenuous peace between Europe's great powers collapsed. Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia had lined up against Austria-Hungary and Germany and World War I begun. (by: Nyasja)

Selective Service Act The Selective Service Act was drafted by General Hugh Johnson after the United States entered World War 1. The law authorized President Woodrow Wilson to raise a volunteer infantry force of no more than four divisions. All males between the ages of 21 and 30 were required to register for military service. By September 1918, 23,908,566 men had registered. Around 4,000,000 men were ultimately drafted into the armed services. Of these, 50% served overseas during the war. The Selective Service Act of 1917 was the first act mandating American military service since the Civil War. In April 1917, before the act's passage, there were only 110,000 servicemen who could be deployed if America joined the war. An army of this size would have been destroyed within months considering the brutal trench warfare. All told, there were 116,516 American casualties in World War I, more than there were in the service at the time war was declared. President Wilson, who had avoided American entry in the war, initially wanted to use only volunteers to augment the forces needed to fight and win the war. However, three weeks after war was declared, only 32,000 Americans had volunteered for service. Wilson realized that this was not enough military strength to win the war, so he called for a draft. Progressive Democrats, who usually sided with the president, asserted that a draft would destroy "democracy at home while fighting for it abroad." Republicans attacked Wilson on the draft issue to take political advantage of the Democrat's wartime leadership. (by: Nyasja)

John Raffensberger Sinking Of The Lusitania -There were warnings that said if ships entered the war zone it would be shot at.-It was a British ship but Americans were on board. -They wanted to disguise the ship to make it look like it was a passengers boat (however, it had weapons on it), Germany shot at it anyway and killed hundreds of people.

John Raffensberger New Types Of Weapons Flamethrower-could shoot a flame 90 feet and burn the oxygen out of a room. Tank-Steel plated vehicle with gun mounts and catipillar tracks. Machine Gun-Caused massive cassulties on both sides of the war. Belt fed allowed rapid fire.

John Raffensberger Treaty Of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace tereaties at the end of World War 1. It ended the state of war between Germany and the allied poewrs. It was signed on June 28 1918.