Chapter 16: World War I

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

MIlitarism

A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war

Allies (Triple Entente)

Alliance between Great Britain, France, Russia

Central Powers (Triple Alliance)

Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Lusitania

A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat on May 7, 1915. 128 Americans died. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans, helping the move towards entering the war.

Sussex Pledge

A promise Germany made to America to stop sinking their ships without warning.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Archduke of Austria Hungary assassinated by a Serbian in 1914. His murder was one of the causes of WW I.

Trench Warfare

Fighting with trenches, mines, and barbed wire. Horrible living conditions, great slaughter, no gains, stalemate, used in WWI.

No Man's Land

Territory between rival Trenches, very dangerous

Zimmermann Note

A secret document to Mexico that said Germany would help them regain lost territories in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico if they joined the war on the Central Powers side

Selective Service Act

act passed by Congress in 1917 authorizing a draft of men for military service

Convoy System

the protection of merchant ships from U-boat-German submarine-attacks by having the ships travel in large groups escorted by warships

American Expeditionary Force

the U.S. forces, led by Gen. John Pershing, who fought with the allies in Europe during WWI

John J. Pershing

Commander of American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I

Armistice

an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

War Industries Board

Agency established during WWI to increase efficiency & discourage waste in war-related industries.

Propaganda

Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.

Committee on Public Information

government organization that produced propaganda to build support for the war

Espionage and Sedition Acts 1918

Passed by Congress and President Wilson, criminalized any "disloyal, profane, or abusive language about the U.S. government or military, or any speech intended to incite insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty." Meant to bolster and not undermine the World War I effort

Fourteen Points

A series of proposals in which U.S. president Woodrow Wilson outlined a plan for achieving a lasting peace after World War I.

Self-determination

Concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves

League of Nations

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

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Treaty that ended World War I - most important part was the forced blame on Germany and other allies

War-Guilt Clause

in Treaty of Versailles; declared Germany and Austria responsible for WWI; ordered Germany to pay reparation to Allied powers

Reparations

As part of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly lead to a severe depression in Germany.