US History WW1

Based off WWI notes taken in class & questions from study guide

Militarism

Aggressive buildup of armed forces to intimidate and threaten other nations

Alliances

Agreements between nations for defense and mutual benefit (Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente)

Imperialism

Stronger nations controlling weaker territories to build empires and wealth

Nationalism

Intense pride in one’s homeland, culture, and identity; idea of self

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Spark of WWI in June 1914 by Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand

Domino Effect

Alliances triggered wider war as Austria

Central Powers

Germany, Austria Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

Allies

France, Russia, Britain, Italy (promised Austria

German Plan Fails

Germany invaded France through Belgium, Britain declared war when Belgium was invaded

US Neutrality

At start of WWI, Wilson declared neutrality, but US leaned toward Allies due to trade and loans

Business Supports Britain

American banks loaned over $2 billion to Allies, only $27 million to Germany

Contraband

Britain blockaded German ports and inspected ships, stopping goods from reaching Germany

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany sank ships with U boats, including Lusitania (1915) and Sussex (1916)

Sussex Pledge

Germany’s promise to stop sinking ships after US warning

Zimmerman Telegram

Secret German proposal to Mexico to ally against US, intercepted by Britain

US Declares War

April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for war after Germany sank US ships and Zimmerman note exposed

Selective Service Act

Required men ages 21 to 30 to register for the draft; 2.8 million drafted

War Industries Board

Coordinated production of war materials, set prices, allocated resources

Victory Gardens

Citizens encouraged to grow food to support war effort

Fuel Administration

Managed coal and oil, created daylight savings time, promoted “Heatless Mondays”

War Bonds

Liberty and Victory Bonds sold to finance war; people loaned money to government

Women in Workforce

1 million entered work for first time, 8 million promoted; most returned after war

Great Migration

Mass movement of African Americans north for jobs and voting rights

Committee on Public Information

Led by George Creel, used propaganda, movies, speakers, “Four Minute Men”

Espionage Act (1917)

Illegal to aid enemy, give false reports, interfere with war effort

Sedition Act (1918)

Made it illegal to publicly oppose the war

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court ruled free speech could be limited during “clear and present danger”

US Troops Strength

300,000 at war declaration, millions drafted and volunteered, 50,000 killed in combat

Flu Epidemic

1918 to 1919 pandemic killed 60,000 US troops, 500,000 Americans, 25 to 50 million worldwide

African Americans in War

400,000 drafted, 42,000 served in combat, earned high praise abroad

Women in Military

Served officially as nurses and clerical workers, not allowed in combat

Trench Warfare

Static defensive strategy with machine guns, barbed wire, and artillery

No Man’s Land

Dangerous area between trenches with barbed wire and obstacles

New Weapons

Poison gas, tanks, aircraft, machine guns, zeppelins, dogfights

Convoy System

Ships traveled in groups with destroyer escorts to prevent U boat attacks

Russian Revolution

1917 uprising removed Czar, later brought Lenin and Bolsheviks to power, Russia exited war

Battle of Argonne Forest (1918)

Largest US offensive, 600,000 American troops helped push Germans back

Alvin York

American hero who earned Medal of Honor for capturing 132 German soldiers

Eddie Rickenbacker

US fighter ace and former race car driver, Medal of Honor recipient

Armistice

War ended November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. (11th hour, 11th day, 11th month)

Fourteen Points

Wilson’s peace plan emphasizing self

League of Nations

International peacekeeping organization proposed by Wilson, but US did not join

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Blamed Germany, imposed reparations, restricted military, created League of Nations

Senate Rejects Treaty

US Senate, led by Republicans, rejected joining League of Nations twice

Economic Turmoil

After war, inflation and cost of living rose as factories cut production

General Strike

All workers in a community strike; Seattle general strike shut city down in 1919

Boston Police Strike

75% of police force walked out; Calvin Coolidge called National Guard, refused to reinstate strikers

Racial Unrest

1919 riots like Chicago’s left dozens dead, fueled by job competition and prejudice

Red Scare (1919–1920)

Fear of communism, anarchism, and radicalism after bombs and strikes

Palmer Raids

A. Mitchell Palmer led raids on radicals, thousands arrested, 600 deported without trials

Election of 1920

Warren G. Harding (Republican) won on promise of “return to normalcy”