Study Guide - Woodrow Wilson Foreign Policy - vocab

Jones Act (1916)

A U.S. law that granted territorial status to the Philippines and promised eventual independence once a 'stable government' was established, reflecting Wilson's commitment to self-determination.

Tampico Incident (1914)

A diplomatic conflict between the U.S. and Mexico after U.S. sailors were briefly detained by Mexican forces, leading to heightened tensions and U.S. military occupation of Veracruz.

Central Powers

An alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria during World War I, opposing the Allied Powers.

Allied Powers

The coalition of France, Britain, Russia (later joined by the U.S. and others) during World War I, fighting against the Central Powers.

U-Boats

German submarines used during World War I to enforce a naval blockade and sink Allied and neutral ships, contributing to U.S. entry into the war.

Lusitania (1915)

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans; this act inflamed U.S. opinion against Germany.

Zimmermann Note (1917)

A secret German proposal to Mexico to form an alliance against the U.S. in exchange for the return of lost territories; its interception helped drive the U.S. into World War I.

Fourteen Points (1918)

President Wilson's plan for postwar peace, emphasizing self-determination, free trade, and the establishment of the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts.

Committee on Public Information (CPI)

A government agency created to mobilize American public opinion in favor of World War I through propaganda and media campaigns.

Espionage Act (1917)

A federal law that prohibited interference with military operations, including draft resistance, and imposed penalties for spying or aiding the enemy.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

A Supreme Court case upholding the Espionage Act, establishing that speech posing a 'clear and present danger' is not protected under the First Amendment.

War Industries Board (WIB)

A U.S. government agency that coordinated industrial production during World War I, ensuring efficient resource allocation for the war effort.

Pancho Villa

A Mexican revolutionary who led a raid on Columbus, New Mexico, in 1916, prompting a U.S. military expedition to capture him.

Siege of Veracruz (1914)

A U.S. military intervention in Mexico to prevent German arms shipments to Victoriano Huerta's regime, part of escalating tensions in U.S.-Mexico relations.

ABC Powers

Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, which mediated the U.S.-Mexico conflict following the Tampico Incident, showcasing their role as regional peacekeepers.

Blackjack Pershing

General John J. Pershing, who led the U.S. expeditionary force against Pancho Villa and later commanded American troops in World War I.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties on Germany and establishing the League of Nations, though the U.S. Senate refused to ratify it.

Reservationists, Irreconcilables

Senate factions opposed to the Treaty of Versailles; Reservationists sought amendments to the League of Nations covenant, while Irreconcilables rejected the treaty entirely.