World War I: Alliances, U.S. Involvement, and Peace Efforts

Triple Alliance

A military alliance formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, which later became part of the Central Powers.

Triple Entente

An alliance established between France, Russia, and Great Britain, which later formed the Allied Powers.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination in 1914 triggered the outbreak of World War I.

Sarajevo

The city in Bosnia where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914.

Gavrilo Princip

A Serbian nationalist responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which contributed to the start of the war.

Woodrow Wilson's Neutrality

The initial stance of the U.S. president aiming to keep the United States out of World War I.

British Blockade

A strategy employed by Britain to restrict supplies to Germany, challenging U.S. neutrality.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany's naval policy of sinking ships without warning, including those from neutral nations.

Arabic and Sussex Incidents

Events where the ships were attacked by German U-boats, leading to American casualties and heightened tensions.

Sussex Pledge

A commitment made by Germany in 1916 to cease unrestricted submarine warfare in response to American protests.

International Law on Naval Warfare

Legal requirements stipulating that ships must be stopped and identified before being sunk, ensuring passenger safety.

Lusitania

A British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 128 Americans.

Zimmermann Note

A secret communication from Germany proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S. in exchange for territorial gains.

Congressional Vote for War

The decisive vote in Congress where the Senate approved war with a count of 82-6 and the House 373-50.

Immediate Cause of U.S. Entry

The resumption of German submarine warfare, which directly prompted the United States to join the conflict.

Reasons for U.S. Entry into WWI

Factors including German intrigue, Allied propaganda, economic ties, and threats to U.S. interests.

Wilson's 1916 Campaign Slogan

The phrase 'He kept us out of war' that helped Woodrow Wilson secure re-election.

1916 Presidential Election Outcome

Woodrow Wilson won against Charles Evans Hughes with 277 electoral votes to 254.

War Industries Board

The government agency responsible for coordinating the production of war materials, led by Bernard Baruch.

War Labor Board

An agency that mediated labor disputes during the war, headed by William Howard Taft.

Food Administration

The organization responsible for managing food supplies during the war, led by Herbert Hoover.

Rail and Fuel Administration

The agency that oversaw fuel and transportation during the war, led by William Gibbs McAdoo.

American Expeditionary Forces

The U.S. military forces sent to Europe during World War I, commanded by General John J. Pershing.

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts

African-American soldiers recognized for their bravery with the French Croix de Guerre during World War I.

Wilson's Fourteen Points

A proposal for peace that emphasized self-determination, free trade, and the establishment of a League of Nations.

1918 Midterm Elections

An election where Republicans gained power, diminishing President Wilson's influence in peace negotiations.

Opposition to Wilson's Treaty Negotiations

Criticism led by Henry Cabot Lodge and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee against Wilson's peace plan.

Big Four at Versailles

The leaders of the major Allied powers who negotiated the peace treaty: Wilson (U.S.), Lloyd George (UK), Clemenceau (France), and Orlando (Italy).

League of Nations

An international organization created to promote peace and cooperation among countries to prevent future conflicts.

Versailles Treaty Terms for Germany

Conditions imposed on Germany including accepting blame for the war, paying reparations, disarming, and losing territory.

Opposition to the Versailles Treaty in the U.S.

Resistance from various groups including liberals, German-Americans, Irish-Americans, and isolationists in the Senate.

Official End of WWI for the U.S.

The conclusion of American involvement in the war through a congressional resolution in July 1921, rather than the Versailles Treaty.

Human Cost of WWI

The estimated casualties of the war, including around 10 million deaths and 20 million wounded globally.