How World War 1 Changed America

“European nations began world war 1 with a glamorous vision of war, only to be psychologically shattered by the realities of the trenches, the experience changed the way people referred to the glamour of battle , they treated it no longer as a positive quality but a dangerous illusion.” (Virginia Postrel) Many soldiers did not expect WW1 to be as gruesome as it was. “The War To End All Wars” changed the way people looked at war not just soldiers but the families and friends at home. When woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany, many American men were eager and willing to go to war “Through American muscle, American practices, American ideas.” World war 1 changed the landscape of America by incorporating new technology such as the use of advanced weapons, motorized vehicles, and deadly chemical warfare.

Chemical warfare was very dangerous and caused many deaths in WW1. There were three different types of gases used in battle mustard, chlorine, and tear gas which was the least deadly. Western nations had a treaty against poisonous weapons but the british broke the treaty when they deployed tear gas on german soldiers. Soon after German soldiers struck back with chlorine gas, which was very deadly if exposed to lungs or eyes. The french allies did not expect nor know how to prepare for a gas attacks. The use of gas masks soon came into the war. Every soldier's was issued one and when they saw a thick green/yellow smoke they had to put it on quickly. Fighting with a gas mask on wasn't easy for soldiers they couldn't or shoot well with them even though they did protect from harmful gases. After chemical warfare became more common the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service was established when America entered the