World War I and U.S. Involvement

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to World War I, U.S. involvement in the war, and significant historical events leading up to and following the conflict.

Meuse-Argonne offensive

The final battle of World War I, where 1.2 million U.S. soldiers participated and drove Germans back.

Sergeant York

A Medal of Honor winner from World War I, recognized as a war hero.

Croix de Guerre

France's highest military honor awarded to African-American combat units in World War I.

Armistice

An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting, such as the one Germany agreed to on November 11, 1918.

Selective Service Act

A law enacted in May 1917 that required males ages 21-30 to sign up for the military draft.

American Expeditionary Force

The name given to the U.S. armed forces sent to Europe under General Pershing during World War I.

Convoy system

A naval strategy involving a group of ships sailing together for protection against submarines.

Second Battle of the Marne

A significant turning point in World War I where American troops helped halt the German advance.

Spanish-American War

A conflict in 1898 that marked the end of Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. territorial gains.

Peace without victory

Woodrow Wilson's idea that no nation should be deemed a 'loser' in order to prevent future conflict.

Palmer Raids

Police actions led by U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer to arrest suspected radicals without search warrants.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian immigrants tried and executed for robbery and murder, raising questions about their guilt due to anti-anarchist sentiment.

Fourteen Points

President Wilson's proposal for peace including provisions for reducing military, ending secret treaties, and establishing a League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S., particularly after the 1917 Russian Revolution.