WWI and the 20s

Allied Powers

Included France, Great Britain, Russia, and later Italy and the United States. They opposed the Central Powers and aimed to counterbalance their military strength.

Central Powers

A coalition of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. They fought against the Allied Powers and sought to expand their territorial control.

Neutrality

The policy of not taking sides in a conflict. The United States initially adopted a stance of neutrality during World War I, aiming to avoid entanglement in European disputes.

Submarine Warfare

Particularly unrestricted submarine warfare, involved the use of submarines to attack enemy ships without warning. Germany's use of this tactic, including the sinking of the Lusitania, led to international controversy.

Lusitania

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. This incident significantly influenced American public opinion against Germany.

Sussex Pledge

A promise made by Germany in 1916 to the United States to limit submarine warfare and ensure the safety of civilian passengers. It was a response to American protests over the sinking of ships like the Sussex.

Propaganda

During World War I this was used to influence public opinion and encourage support for the war effort. Governments utilized posters, films, and other media to promote patriotism and demonize the enemy.

Ethnic Support

The backing of the war effort by various ethnic groups. Immigrant communities in the U.S. often aligned with their countries of origin, influencing public sentiment and political pressure.

Preparedness

The movement advocating for increased military readiness in the United States prior to its entry into World War I. It included calls for expanded military training and defense spending.

Election of 1916

Saw incumbent President Woodrow Wilson re-elected, campaigning on the slogan 'He Kept Us Out of War,' despite growing international tensions.

Robert LaFollette

A progressive Republican senator from Wisconsin known for his opposition to World War I and his advocacy for civil liberties and government reform.

Jeannette Rankin

The first woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the only member to vote against entering both World War I and World War II, reflecting her pacifist beliefs.

Edward House

An American diplomat and close advisor to President Wilson, playing a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during World War I.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico, proposing a military alliance against the United States. Its interception and revelation contributed to U.S. entry into World War I.

The Russian Revolution

Led to the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of a communist government under Lenin, significantly altering the Eastern Front of World War I.

Declaration of War

The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, following repeated provocations, including unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram.

War Industries Board

A U.S. government agency established during World War I to coordinate the production of war materials and ensure efficient use of resources.

Food Administration

Led by Herbert Hoover, was responsible for managing food production and distribution during World War I, promoting voluntary rationing and conservation.

Railroad Administration

A U.S. government agency that took control of the nation's railroads during World War I to ensure efficient transportation of troops and supplies.

National War Labor Board

Established to mediate labor disputes during World War I, aiming to prevent strikes and ensure production efficiency.

Taxes and Bonds

To finance World War I, the U.S. government increased taxes and issued Liberty Bonds, encouraging citizens to invest in the war effort.

Selective Service Act

Authorized the U.S. government to draft men into military service, expanding the armed forces for World War I.

Service of African Americans

African Americans served in segregated units during World War I, contributing to the war effort while facing racial discrimination.

Committee on Public Information

A U.S. government agency created to influence public opinion and promote support for World War I through propaganda.

"Peace Without Victory"

President Wilson's speech called for a just and lasting peace without punitive measures against the defeated nations.

George Creel

The head of the Committee on Public Information, overseeing the creation of propaganda to garner public support for World War I.

Fourteen Points

A set of principles aimed at establishing lasting peace after World War I, including self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations.

Anti-German Hysteria

During World War I, anti-German sentiment led to widespread suspicion, discrimination, and violence against German Americans, reflecting wartime hysteria.

Wilson in Paris

President Wilson attended the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, advocating for his Fourteen Points and the creation of the League of Nations.

Espionage Act (1917)

Made it a crime to interfere with military operations or support U.S. enemies.

Sedition Act (1918)

An extension of the Espionage Act, it criminalized speech or actions that criticized the government, military, or war effort.

Treaty of Versailles

Signed in 1919, this treaty formally ended World War I and imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including territorial losses and reparations.

Eugene Debs

A socialist leader and five-time presidential candidate, Debs was imprisoned under the Sedition Act for speaking out against the war.

Self-determination

A principle promoted by President Wilson that encouraged nations and ethnic groups to govern themselves.

Schenck v. United States

A 1919 Supreme Court case that upheld the Espionage Act, ruling that speech presenting a 'clear and present danger' is not protected by the First Amendment.

League of Nations

An international organization proposed by Wilson to prevent future conflicts through diplomacy and collective security.

Article X

A clause in the League of Nations covenant that required member nations to defend each other's independence and territorial integrity.

Wartime Jobs for Women

With men fighting overseas, women took on roles in factories, offices, and other sectors previously dominated by men.

Election of 1918

In this midterm election, Republicans gained control of Congress, weakening Wilson's influence at home and abroad.

Attitudes Toward Suffrage

Women's contributions during the war helped shift public opinion in favor of granting them the right to vote.

Henry Cabot Lodge

A Republican senator and strong opponent of the Treaty of Versailles, Lodge led the campaign against U.S. entry into the League of Nations.

Irreconcilables

A group of senators who completely opposed the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations under any circumstances.

Migration of Blacks and Hispanics

During and after WWI, many African Americans and Hispanics moved north and west for industrial jobs, marking the beginning of the Great Migration.

Reservationists

Senators who were willing to support the Treaty of Versailles if certain modifications were made, particularly to Article X.

Wilson's Stroke

In 1919, President Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke while campaigning for the League of Nations.

Rejection of Treaty

The U.S. Senate ultimately rejected the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and again in 1920.

Bolsheviks Withdraw

After the Russian Revolution, the Bolshevik government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in 1918.

American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

U.S. troops sent to Europe during World War I under General John J. Pershing.

Recession

After World War I, the U.S. experienced a sharp economic downturn as wartime production ended.

Loss of Jobs

Demobilization and reduced government spending after WWI led to widespread job losses.

Falling Farm Prices

Following the war, demand for agricultural products dropped, causing a steep decline in crop prices.

John J. Pershing

Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, who maintained U.S. troops as a separate force.

Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism and radicalism in the U.S., sparked by the Bolshevik Revolution.

Western Front

The main theater of war in World War I, stretching across France and Belgium.

Anti-Radical Hysteria

After WWI, fears of socialism and anarchism led to a national panic resulting in surveillance and arrests.

November 11, 1918

Known as Armistice Day, this marks the official end of World War I when Germany signed an armistice agreement.

Palmer Raids

A series of raids conducted by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer during the Red Scare to arrest and deport suspected anarchists and communists.

Xenophobia

An intense fear or hatred of foreigners, which surged in the U.S. after World War I due to fears of communism, labor unrest, and immigration.

Strikes of 1919

The year 1919 saw over 3,600 labor strikes as workers demanded better wages and conditions.

Boston Police Strike

In 1919, Boston police officers went on strike to protest low pay and poor working conditions.

Race Riots

After WWI, racial tensions erupted in several cities due to competition for jobs and housing, as well as white backlash against Black veterans.

Warren Harding

The 29th President of the United States (1921-1923), promised a 'return to normalcy' after World War I, emphasizing limited government and pro-business policies.

Charles Evans Hughes

A prominent Republican statesman, served as Secretary of State under Harding and later as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Volstead Act (1919)

Officially known as the National Prohibition Act, it defined 'intoxicating liquors' and set penalties for their manufacture, sale, or transportation.

Andrew Mellon

Serving as Secretary of the Treasury under Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover, Mellon was a proponent of supply-side economics.

Lost Generation

A group of American writers in the 1920s, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, who felt disconnected from the values of post-war America.

Gertrude Stein

An influential American expatriate writer and art collector, Stein was a central figure in the Parisian avant-garde scene.

Ernest Hemingway

A renowned American novelist and short story writer, Hemingway's works often explored themes of war, love, and loss.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Best known for his novel 'The Great Gatsby,' Fitzgerald captured the excesses and disillusionment of the Jazz Age.

Al Capone

A notorious American gangster during the Prohibition era, Capone led a criminal empire in Chicago involved in bootlegging, gambling, and other illicit activities.

Teapot Dome Scandal

A major political scandal during Harding's presidency, it involved the secret leasing of federal oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to private companies in exchange for bribes.

Sinclair Lewis

An American novelist and playwright, Lewis was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act

Passed in 1922, this act raised U.S. tariffs on imported goods to protect domestic industries.

Ezra Pound

An influential American poet and critic, Pound was a major figure in the early modernist movement. He is known for his development of Imagism and his support of avant-garde artists and writers.

T. S. Eliot

A leading modernist poet, Eliot's works, such as 'The Waste Land' and 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' explore themes of fragmentation and disillusionment in the modern world. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948.

Bureau of the Budget

Established in 1921, it was the first federal agency responsible for preparing the national budget. It aimed to streamline government spending and improve fiscal management.

Calvin Coolidge

The 30th President of the United States (1923-1929), Coolidge was known for his pro-business policies and belief in limited government. His administration saw economic growth and a reduction in federal debt.

Herbert Hoover

The 31st President of the United States (1929-1933), Hoover was in office during the onset of the Great Depression. He faced criticism for his handling of the economic crisis and was defeated in the 1932 election by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Alfred E. Smith

A four-time governor of New York, Smith was the Democratic presidential candidate in 1928. He was the first Catholic to run for president and opposed Prohibition, but lost to Herbert Hoover.

Edward Hopper

Hopper was a realist painter known for capturing the isolation and quiet struggles of modern American life. His works, like Nighthawks, reflected urban loneliness and the emotional undercurrents of the 1920s.

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

Italian immigrants and anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of murder in a highly controversial trial. Many believed their conviction was based more on their political beliefs and ethnicity than evidence, symbolizing 1920s nativism and xenophobia.

Regional Artists

During the 1920s and 30s, artists like Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton focused on American rural life and traditions. They reacted against modernist trends and highlighted regional themes and landscapes.

Grant Wood

Known for American Gothic, Wood was a regionalist painter who celebrated rural American values. His work reflected the simplicity and dignity of small-town life.

Ku Klux Klan

Revived in the 1910s, the Klan gained millions of members in the 1920s, targeting not only African Americans but also Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and other minority groups. It reflected the decade's surge in nativism and racial intolerance.

Business Prosperity

The 1920s saw rapid economic growth fueled by consumer spending, technological innovation, and pro-business policies. Industries like automobiles and consumer appliances thrived, contributing to rising standards of living.

George Gershwin

An influential American composer who blended classical music with jazz, creating iconic works like Rhapsody in Blue. His music captured the energy and cultural mixing of the Jazz Age.

Birth of a Nation

A 1915 silent film directed by D.W. Griffith that was groundbreaking in cinematic techniques but notorious for glorifying the Ku Klux Klan and promoting racist stereotypes. Its release sparked protests and helped fuel the Klan's resurgence.

Standard of Living

The average American's quality of life improved in the 1920s due to rising incomes, new consumer goods, and technological advancements like electricity and cars. However, economic gains were unevenly distributed.

Scientific Management

Developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, this method analyzed workflows to improve efficiency in production. It influenced industrial practices and contributed to increased productivity, especially in factories.

Henry Ford

Founder of Ford Motor Company, Ford revolutionized manufacturing with the moving assembly line, dramatically lowering car prices. His Model T made automobile ownership accessible to millions of Americans.

Assembly Line

A production method introduced by Ford where workers added parts to a product as it moved along a conveyor. It drastically increased output and lowered costs, symbolizing 1920s industrial efficiency.

Northern Migration

Part of the Great Migration, African Americans moved from the rural South to northern cities in search of jobs and less racial discrimination. This shift reshaped urban culture and demographics.

Open Shop

A workplace where union membership is not required, promoted by employers in the 1920s to weaken labor unions. It reflected broader pro-business and anti-labor attitudes of the decade.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement centered in Harlem, NYC, where African American artists, writers, and musicians celebrated Black identity, heritage, and artistic expression. It marked a flowering of Black culture and pride.

Welfare Capitalism

A strategy by businesses to offer workers benefits like pensions, insurance, and recreation to reduce unionization and improve loyalty. It aimed to humanize capitalism while maintaining control over labor.

Countee Cullen

A leading poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Cullen blended classical forms with African American themes. His work emphasized racial pride, cultural heritage, and equality.

Langston Hughes

A prominent Harlem Renaissance poet and writer, Hughes wrote about Black life, struggle, and joy. He used jazz-influenced rhythms and celebrated African American culture and resilience.

James Weldon Johnson

A writer, lawyer, and NAACP leader, Johnson was a major voice in the Harlem Renaissance and civil rights movement. He authored 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' often called the Black national anthem.

Claude McKay

A Jamaican-born poet and key Harlem Renaissance figure whose works like If We Must Die addressed racial injustice and resistance. He explored themes of Black pride and defiance.

Duke Ellington

A renowned jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader, Ellington helped bring jazz to a wider audience during the Harlem Renaissance. His performances at venues like the Cotton Club shaped the sound of the era.