US History Study Guide: World War 1 (1920s) Vocabulary

Modern U.S. History - Mr. McGuire (11th gr.)

Franz Ferdinand

Royalty of Austria-Hungary.
-Got assassinated... led to the start of WW1.

Woodrow Wilson

28th president of the United States, known for World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve (currency), Federal Trade Commission (break up monopolies).
-Wanted to remain NEUTRAL.
-Wanted to keep USA out of the war.
-Most important progressive president.

Lusitania

A British passenger ship 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, after Wilson threatened to sever ties, to stop sinking their ships without warning.
-Germans had to warn if they were going to sink non military vessels.

Zimmermann Note

Message proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico through telegraph.
-(Mexico invades USA; in return Germany will help Mexico get land back from USA).

Preparedness Movement

Word used by people who wanted to go to war early; a place where young boys would go and train to have an army "ready".

Victory Garden

a home vegetable garden created to boost food production during WWI; to have more supplies.

War Industries Board

Was used to transform our economy to make more weapons.

Mass Media

People could use telegraph, newspapers to keep in touch with people, updates, etc...

Committee on Public Information

was a propaganda committee that built support for the war effort in Europe among Americans.
-used to make the war popular.

Selective Service

Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 45 to register for the military draft.

Espionage Act

Law that is used to punish people who criticized the war effort; could get arrested and put in prison.

Harlem Hellfighters

a nickname for the decorated, all-black 369th Infantry, which served on the frontlines of France for six months, longer than any other American unit.

John J. Pershing

Commanding general of America (AEF).
-Fought with allies; but he got to decide whatever what HE thought was best for our military; not follow foreign leaders.
-One of the greatest generals.

Alvin York

Most famous American Hero.
-Film after him.
-Secured the surrender of german soldiers.
-Seargent

Model T

most important car; was the first car lower/middle class could afford, created by Henry Ford; strengthened the middle class.

Creationism

The controversial over if creationism should be taught in schools; disagreement over creationism throughout religions.

National Origins Act

A law that restricts immigration, they did not want more jews and italians;

Eugene V. Debs

Leader of the socialist party; the leader for the left; was convicted due to violating the espionage act.

Harlem Renaissance

A period in the 1920s when African-American achievements in art and music and literature flourished

Ku Klux Klan

More than 10% of white men in the states were apart of the klan, the bonded over their hatred, due to immigration; "extreme hate group"

Great Migration

Movement of African Americans from the South to the North for jobs.

Palmer Raids

Targeted the jews, raids, meant to find out extremest.

Red Scare

A period of general fear of communists after WW1 including Palmer Raids.

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices; a problem in the early 1920s

Henry Cabot Lodge

US Senator who opposed the League of Nations and was against the treaty to end the war.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, cease fire.

League of Nations

Disputes could be handled and mediate hopefully without violence.

Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson plan for ending WW1

Eddie Rickenbacker

"ace" pilot who downed 26 enemy (german) fighters in WWI