MWH - WW1 Study Guide Notes

Mr. G

Schenck v. United States

A 1919 Supreme Court case that ruled the government can limit free speech during wartime if it poses a “clear and present danger.”

Espionage Act 1917

A law that made it illegal to interfere with the war effort or help U.S. enemies during WWI.

Total War

A type of war where a country uses all its resources (economy, industry, civilians) to support the war effort.

Zimmerman Note

A secret message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany’s policy of attacking any ships (including civilian and neutral) without warning.

Selective Service Act

A 1917 law that created the military draft to increase U.S. troop numbers.

War Industries Board

A government agency that coordinated industrial production and resources for the war.

Sedition Act 1918

A law that made it illegal to criticize the U.S. government, military, or war effort.

Committee of Public Information

A government propaganda agency that promoted support for WWI through posters, films, and speeches.

Wilson’s 14 Points

President Woodrow Wilson’s plan for peace, promoting democracy, free trade, self-determination, and the League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended WWI and punished Germany.

War Guilt Clause

A section of the Treaty of Versailles that placed full blame for WWI on Germany.

Reparations

Payments Germany was forced to make to Allied countries for war damages.

Spark of World War 1

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914.

Four Main Causes of World War 1

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism (MAIN).

League of Nations

An international organization created to prevent future wars (the U.S. never joined).

Trench Warfare

A fighting style where soldiers fought from deep trenches, leading to stalemates and high casualties.

Spanish Flu

A deadly influenza pandemic (1918–1919) that killed millions worldwide.

Main Causes of US Entry into WW1

Unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking of the Lusitania, Zimmerman Note, and economic ties to Allies.

Causes and Effects-Modern Technology

Industrial advancements led to new weapons (machine guns, tanks, gas) that made war more destructive.

Central Powers and Allied Powers

Central: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria. Allied: Great Britain, France, Russia, U.S., Italy.