World War I Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts, events, and terminology related to World War I as discussed in the lecture notes.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the Austrian throne whose assassination triggered World War I.

Serbian nationalist group

A group that sought to unite Slavic peoples and was represented by Gavrilo Princip.

Gavrilo Princip

Member of the Serbian nationalist group Young Bosnia who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Central Powers

The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I.

Triple Entente

The alliance of Great Britain, France, and Russia during World War I.

Submarine Warfare

Naval combat where submarines attack enemy vessels, significantly utilized by Germany with its U-boats.

Lusitania

British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing 128 Americans and contributing to U.S. entry into WWI.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the U.S., intercepted by the British.

Espionage Act

U.S. legislation making it illegal to criticize the war effort during World War I.

Liberty Bonds

Government bonds sold to the public to finance the war effort during World War I.

Select Service Act

U.S. law that instituted the draft for military service during World War I.

National War Labor Board (WLB)

An organization created to mediate labor disputes during World War I and ensure production in war industries.

Herbert Hoover

Head of the Food Administration during WWI, responsible for rationing food and ensuring supplies.

American Federation of Labor

A national federation of labor unions in the U.S., led by Samuel Gompers who sought to improve labor conditions during WWI.

War Industries Board (WIB)

U.S. government agency that coordinated the production and procurement of war materials during World War I.

National Defense Act of 1916

An act that increased the size of the U.S. military in preparation for potential involvement in WWI.

Anti-German Sentiment

Public hostility towards Germans in the U.S. during World War I, leading to discrimination and violence.

African American enlistment

About 13% of soldiers in WWI were African American, many hoping to demonstrate loyalty and secure civil rights.

Wilson's Fourteen Points

A statement of principles for peace negotiations to end World War I, emphasizing self-determination and a League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and redrawing European borders.

Chemical Warfare

The use of gases, such as mustard gas, in combat, which became prevalent during World War I.

Trench Warfare

A type of combat where soldiers occupy deep trenches, leading to prolonged stalemates on the Western Front.

Victory Gardens

Private gardens planted by citizens to alleviate food shortages during WWI.

Committee on Public Information (CPI)

A U.S. government agency created to promote the war effort and influence public opinion.