Letter to Home

Dear Caroline,
     Being a nurse at this camp site is horrifying. There are constantly loud bombs and noises from afar, startling me every time. I bandage so many injured men a day, I don't even think it would be possible to keep track. Some days I meet a new soldier, and the next day he is passed away. I've learned to not get attached to anyone. I have never seen so much blood in my entire life until being a nurse at this war. Many men come in with their legs or hands or any body part, completely destroyed from being struck in the trenches. Though the doctors job is to decapitate the limbs, it's been so hectic  and busy around here, sometimes the other nurses and I end up having to do the job for him. I almost feel like I've lost my self working here the last months. I've witnessed so many deaths and injuries and visions if seen before, I fear when I come home, if I come home, I will not be the same as you remember. Just know you are in my heart.
Your sister,
Claire

WW 1 causes

1.
Nationalism- The support of one nation, being loyal to your country.

 Alliance System- The formal support to help countries in case of danger, or war.

 Imperialism- The building power of taking over another colonies. Countries were arguing over colonies, this caused war.

Militarism- Its the preparation for war. At the time, britain had the strongest navy and germany was trying to expand their own army. This established strong preparation for the war.

2.

The spark of WWI was the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand. Also, the rivalry between Europe and a group of alliances. Because Archduke Ferdinand was killed, it led to Austria-Hungary invading Serbia(where Franz Ferdinand was killed). Russia aided Serbia, and Germany declared war on Russia then. To help their allies, France started war on Austria-Hungary and Germany. England backed up their allies too, France and Russia. Then when the United States joined in, World War I officially began.

3.
-Unrestricted Sub Warfare: (1915-1918) A naval attack where submarines have the ability to sink ships without warning. There was no chance to get off the ship so all the crew sunk. Killed many ship members without having an actual cause. This is when US really wanted to join the war. 
-Lusitania: (May 7, 1915)  A ferry boat that transported merchandise and people from Great Britain and US. It after after being torpedoed by a German U-boat. This event really made the US want join the hectic war.

-Sussex Pledge: (May 4, 1916) A pledge Germany made, promising that they would sink any ships with their u-boats except if there was known weapons. unless there was weapons. The Lusitania was sunk three days after this pledge. This was another reason why the US should join the war.

-Zimmerman note: (1917) The note that was intercepted by the U.S. which was supposedly Germany trying to convince Mexico to attack the U.S.

African Americans in the War

          Another reason the war impacted the African Americans, was because it ran into the Great Migration. Furthermore, why even the non-fighting citizens were in trouble. Mostly the south was affected, though the north. The years 1914 and 1920, hundreds of thousands of African Americans got their belongings together and moved to the north, reshaping the country wherever they traveled. With the war going on and consistent need of more guns, armor, food, etc., there were many job opportunities in the industry. The African Americans were relieved and got many job offers and good wages as well. The majority of women still worked domestic labor, while many men had to change from agriculture to manufacturing things, such as entryways and automobiles.

            In the beginning of the World War I, African Americans did not see the need to enter the war. What they didn't realize was that it would impact them more than anyone else in the war, socially, economicly and politically. Not only for the soldiers, but also for the citizens, north and south. The war was one of the African Americans most vigorous times in their history, with migration, military service, racial violence and political protest. This was the era African Americans demanded their equality and rights.
           American needed soldiers rapidly in World War I. African Americans eagerly joined the military when the Americans were recruiting all men, 21 to 31 years of age. The African American's thought process was that if they fought with heart on the Americans side, it would show patriotism and proof that they were loyal to American and deserved the same rights as any fellow white man. Unfortunately that wasn't the situation. They gladly accepted the African Americans on to their troops, but in the end treated them with the same slight respect. The African Americans were limited even in the military. For one example, they couldn't be apart of the Marines. What they thought would make a difference for their equality, ended up just leaving them in the same place left off.

http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/fightingforrespect.aspx