WWI Vocab

Central Powers

the WWI coalition, headed by Germany and Austria-Hungary and later including the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, that opposed the Allied powers

Allied Powers

the WWI coalition, headed by France, Britain, and Russia and later including Portugal, Japan, and Italy, that opposed the Central powers

Nationalism

a strong feeling of pride in and loyalty to one’s nation

militarism

the glorification of military power and values

stalemate

a situation in a contest or conflict in which neither side can make a useful move

U-Boat

German submarine first employed in warfare, initially used during WWI

Lusitania

an unarmed British ocean liner whose sinking by a German U-boat on May 7th, 1915 influenced the US decision to enter WWI

Sussex Pledge

during WWI, a German promise in 1916 to begin giving advance warning of submarine attacks on ocean liners and to spare the lives of passengers and crew

preparedness movement

beginning in 1915, before US entry into WWI, a movement led by former president Theodore Roosevelt that called on the government to increase US military strength and convince Americans of the need for US involvement in the war.

propoganda

information or rumors spread by a group or government to promote its cause or ideas or to damage an opposing cause or idea.

Zimmermann Note

German foreign minister’s telegram (Arthur Zimmermann) sent to the minister in Mexico proposing alliance if the US entered the war; helped influence the US to declare war on Germany

Selective Service Act

a law passed by Congress in 1917 to create a national draft

American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

in WWI, the first US military force to be deployed in France

Infantry

soldiers who fight on foot

369th Regiment

in WWI, an African American regiment of the US army

Combatants

A person who physically fights a war

trench warfare

warfare where armies fight each other from opposing positions in fortified trenches

chemical weapons

a weapon that contains a poisonous substance

battleships

the largest and most heavily armored type of warships

convoy

a group of vessels or vehicles that travel together, often under the protection of an armed escort

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

in WWI, the final Allied offensive that brought about the end of the war

mobilized

to organize people or resources for action, such as war

Pacifists

a person who opposes all wars, usually on moral or religious grounds

Women’s Peace Party

an organization, established by a group of pacifist women in 1915 in response to WWI, that called for arms limitations and meditation to take the place of combat in Europe

conscientious objectors

a person who opposes war for religious or moral reasons and therefore refuses to serve in the armed forces

Committee of Public Information (CPI)

a government agency created by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917, during WWI, to promote pro-war propaganda to the American public

Bonds

a certificate issued by a government or company that promises to pay back borrowed money at a fixed rate of interest on a specific date

Liberty Bonds

a government-issued bond sold during WWI to raise money for the Allied war effort

Great Migration

beginning during WWI, the mass movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North and Midwest in order to take jobs in industry

Espionage Act

a law passed by Congress in 1917 to make it illegal to spy, interfere with government foreign policy, or resist the military draft

Sedition Act

a law passed by Congress in 1918 to make it illegal to say anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or the war effort

Wobblies

a nickname for members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an anti-capitalism labor organization founded in 1905

Schenck vs US

Supreme Court case declaring Charles Schenck’s propaganda against the draft were illegal under the Espionage Act and not protected by First Amendment right to freedom of speech

Fourteen Points

at the end of WWI, a 14-part plan for peace presented by President Woodrow Wilson to Congress on January 8th, 1918.

freedom of the seas

the principle that merchant ships have a right to travel freely and unthreatened in international waters in times of peace and war

armaments

a weapon or peace of equipment used in war

League of Nations

an international organization established by the Allied powers at the close of WWI to promote international peace and security

Big Four

nickname for leaders of the four largest victorious nations of WWI, including US president Woodrow Wilson, British prime minister David Lloyd George, French prime minister Vittorioi Orlando.

war guilt clause

clause included in the Treaty of Versailles that held Germany responsible for WWI and required it to make reparations to the Allied nations to pay for losses and damage they suffered during the war.

reparations

a payment demanded of a nation defeated in war by a victorious nation

mandates

former colonies given over by the League of Nations to France and Britain to administer

Treaty of Versailles

peace treaty signed by the Allies and Germany, at the Paris peace conference at the Palace of Versailles in France; it assigned Germany responsibility for the war, required Germany to pay reparations to the Allies, reduced Germany’s territory, and included the League of Nations

Reservationists

at the close of WWI, one of the Republican senators who agreed to approve the Treaty of Versailles only if changes were made in response to their concerns about the document

Irreconcilables

at the close of WWI, 16 Republican senators who opposed the Treaty of Versailles

Internationalists

at the close of WWI, Democratic senators who supported the Treaty of Versailles

Partisanship

rivalry between political parties based on disagreement about political principles