American Foreign Policy and World War I (1898-1919)

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to American foreign policy changes and the U.S. involvement in World War I from 1898 to 1919.

14 Points

A statement of principles for peace used for peace negotiations to end World War I, proposed by President Woodrow Wilson.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that ended World War I, signed in 1919, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I under the Treaty of Versailles to promote peace.

Internationalists

Senators who supported Wilson and the League, believing it would ensure future world peace.

Reservationists

Senators led by Henry Cabot Lodge who opposed the League of Nations unless changes were made to the treaty.

Irreconcilables

Senators led by William Borah who rejected the League of Nations altogether, advocating for isolationism.

Article 10

Part of the League Covenant requiring member nations to defend each other's territorial integrity.

Mobilization

The process of preparing military forces for war, including drafting soldiers and producing equipment.

Total War

A war strategy that involves utilizing all resources (human, economic, and political) to achieve victory.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

German military strategy during WWI that involved attacking enemy ships without warning.

Zimmerman Note

A secret telegram from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the USA, intercepted by British intelligence.

Selective Service Act

The U.S. law passed in 1917 that authorized the government to draft men into military service.

War Industries Board (WIB)

A U.S. government agency created to coordinate the production of military supplies during WWI.

Committee on Public Information (CPI)

A U.S. government agency created to promote the war effort through propaganda and to sell war bonds.

Bolsheviks

A faction of the Russian socialist movement, led by Lenin, that overthrew the Tsar and established a communist government.

Red Scare

The fear in the USA of communism and radical leftism that emerged following the Russian Revolution.

Sedition & Espionage Acts

Laws passed during WWI that prohibited speaking out against the government and the war effort.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North during and after World War I.

Big Stick Diplomacy

The diplomatic policy of Theodore Roosevelt that emphasized the use of military power to achieve foreign policy goals.

Roosevelt Corollary

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting that the U.S. has the right to intervene in Latin American countries.

Social Darwinism

The belief that certain nations or races are superior and more fit for survival, used to justify imperialism.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war, one of the causes of World War I.

Alliances

Agreements between nations for mutual benefit, which were a significant cause of World War I.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means, contributing to WWI.

Nationalism

A sense of pride and devotion to one's nation, which fueled tensions and conflicts leading up to WWI.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The event in 1914 that sparked the outbreak of World War I.

Economic Boom

A period of rapid economic growth, which occurred in the U.S. during and after WWI.

Isolationism

A foreign policy stance of non-involvement in international affairs or conflicts.

Women's Suffrage Movement

The movement advocating for women's right to vote, which gained momentum during and after WWI.

Race Riots

Violent disturbances caused by racial tensions, particularly prominent in Northern cities during and after WWI.

New Nations

Countries that emerged in Central and Eastern Europe after World War I, often as a result of empire disintegration.

German Reparations

Payments imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles to compensate Allied nations for war damages.

War Guilt Clause

Clause in the Treaty of Versailles that placed blame for the war solely on Germany.

Imperialism vs. Self-Determination

The conflict between the expansion of empires and the right of nations to govern themselves, central to post-WWI discussions.

Political Independence

The state of being self-governing and free from outside control, a principle in the League of Nations.