WW1 Flashcards

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Propaganda

is biased or misleading information used to promote a particular political cause or point of view, especially during wartime.

Sedition act

a law enacted in 1918 that made it illegal to speak out against the government or military during World War I.

Espionage act

a law passed in 1917 that imposed penalties for spying, sabotage, or obstructing the war effort during World War I.

selective service act

a law passed in 1917 that authorized the federal government to draft citizens into military service during World War I.

Committee on public information

a government agency created in 1917 to promote support for the war through propaganda and influence public opinion.

Lusitania

a British ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, leading to increased anti-German sentiment in the United States.

Neutrality act

laws enacted in the 1930s to prevent American involvement in future overseas conflicts, aimed at keeping the United States neutral.

Zimmerman telegram

a secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the United States during World War I, revealed in 1917 and contributing to the US's entry into the war.

triple alliance

a military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, which aimed to counterbalance the power of France and Russia.

triple entente

the alliance between France, Russia, and Britain in the lead-up to World War I, formed to counterbalance the Triple Alliance.

the great migration

the mass movement of approximately 6 million African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North, Midwest, and West between 1910 and 1970, driven by the hope for economic opportunity, education, and escape from racial violence (Jim Crow laws, lynching) while responding to labor demands in Northern industries during World Wars I & II

convoy system

grouped merchant ships into large formations, escorted by warships, to protect them from devastating German U-boat attacks, dramatically reducing losses and securing vital supply lines for troops and goods across the Atlantic and other oceans.

Razzle dazzle

a disruptive painting style for ships, using bold, contrasting geometric patterns not to hide them, but to confuse enemy U-boat commanders about their true speed, distance, and direction, making torpedo targeting incredibly difficult

Battle of Somme

a massive, brutal Allied offensive (British and French) against Germany on the Western Front during World War I, infamous for its horrific casualties, especially on the first day when over 57,000 British troops were lost, making it one of history's deadliest battles, characterized by trench warfare, failed tactics, and immense attrition with minimal territorial gain

Battle of St. Mihiel

the first major offensive led solely by the U.S. Army in WW1- the purpose was to open up allied communication lines and capture the main German rail road center in the city of Metz. The Germans were severely outnumbered by the American and French troops.

Wilson’s 14 points

President Woodrow Wilson proposed a 14-point program for world peace

League of nations

an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations

Treaty of Versailles

the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans

The American expeditionary force

About 2 million Americans went to France as members of this under General John J. Pershing. Included the regular army, the National Guard, and the new larger force of volunteers and draftees and they served as individuals

War guilt clause

in treaty of Versailles; declared germany and austria responsible for WWI; ordered Germany to pay reparation to Allied powers

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, started World War I.

President Woodrow Wilson

Progressive; issued banking reform with Federal Reserve Act; ended protective tariff (Underwood-Simmons) + legislation to end trusts (Clayton Anti-Trust Act/Federal Trade Commission); resegregation of federal government; moral diplomacy; president during WWI

Horace Pippin

An African american painter that served in the war as a Harlem Hell fighter, who rocketed to popularity because of his paintings of racism

Harlem Hellfighters

The African American infantry unit that fought with the French Army in World War I. Most decorated regiment in ww1.

Col. William Hayward

Commanding officer of the 369th regiment

Gen. John J. Pershing

The US General that led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

M.A.I.N

Militarism, Alliance, Imperialism, Nationalism

Militarism

the policy and belief in building strong armed forces and using military power aggressively to achieve national goals, influencing politics, economy, and society

Imperialism

the policy and practice of extending a nation's power and influence over foreign territories through economic, political, or military control

Alliance

a formal agreement between nations for mutual support, often defense, creating collective security

Nationalism

the ideology emphasizing shared identity, interests, and loyalty to the nation, fostering unity and self-governance

How did Militarism leave long lasting effects after ww1

Led to an arms race between nations and led to nations drastically expanding their armies

How did Alliances leave long lasting effects after ww1

The long-term causes of alliances after WWI (leading to WWII) stemmed from the unresolved issues and resentments from WWI, primarily the punitive Treaty of Versailles, which fueled German nationalism and desire for revenge, and the failure of the League of Nations to maintain peace, leading nations to re-arm and seek security through new pacts (like German alliances with Italy/Japan) against perceived threats (Britain/France/USSR), creating opposing blocs driven by lingering economic woes, imperial ambitions, and extreme nationalism. 

How did Imperialism leave long lasting effects after ww1

Competition for colonies (like in Africa) created economic and political friction, pushing nations to align for resources and power against rivals

How did Nationalism leave long lasting effects after ww1

Intense pride and belief in national superiority fueled rivalries (e.g., France vs. Germany, Slavic nationalism in Balkans) and desires for independence, making countries wary and seeking security through pacts

Why did the U.S Enter ww1?

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, which sank ships such as the Lusitania, and the Zimmermann Telegram, where Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against the U.S., turning public opinion and forcing President Woodrow Wilson to ask for a declaration of war in April 1917

What are the three weaknesses of the Treaty of Versailles

War Guilt Clause that humiliated Germany, the crushing reparations and economic terms that crippled its recovery, Stripped Germany of valuable lands and colonies, further hindering its economic recovery. Severely limited the German military, undermining national pride and creating a sense of injustice.

Technological innovations of ww1

industrialized killing with machine guns, tanks, and chemical weapons (like mustard gas), while transforming communication via radio and aircraft, enabling reconnaissance and bombing

How could president Wilson's 14 points ensure lasting peace

President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points aimed to ensure lasting peace by removing war's causes: promoting self-determination, free trade, freedom of the seas, arms reduction, and open diplomacy, all under a new League of Nations for collective security, creating a just, stable world where nations resolved disputes through cooperation, not conflict, rather than a punitive peace that bred resentment

Why was the battle of Somme significant

its horrific casualties (the bloodiest day in British history), its role in changing British military tactics (leading to combined arms and better artillery use), its impact on public morale, ending "Pals Battalions," and providing crucial, costly lessons that paved the way for Allied victories in 1918

Why was the battle of St. Mihiel significant

the first major offensive solely led by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I, showcasing the U.S. Army's growth into a modern combined-arms force, successfully eliminating a German bulge (salient) to set the stage for larger Allied attacks, and highlighting key American military innovations like large-scale airpower and tank use, solidifying the AEF's reputation.