APUSHch22 Flashcards
Lusitania
A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat on May 7, 1915. 128 Americans died. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans, helping the move towards entering the war.
Sussex Pledge
After French ship Sussex was sunk, Germany promised not to sink anymore merchant ships without warning; this kept the U.S. out of the war for a little while longer (March 1916)
Central Powers
In WWI, the nations of Germany, Austria-Hungary and all the other nations that fought on their side.
Jeanette Rankin
First woman to serve in Congress. Suffragist and pacifist, voted against US involvement in WWI and WWII.
Zimmerman Telegram
March 1917. Sent from German Foreign Secretary, addressed to German minister in Mexico City. Mexico should attack the US if US goes to war with Germany (needed that advantage due to Mexico’s promixity to the US). In return, Germany would give back Tex, NM, Arizona etc to Mexico. Intercepted by British and published in newspapers. Led to US entering the war.
Russian Revolution
The revolution against the Tsarist government which led to the abdication of Nicholas II and the creation of a republic in March 1917. (Later in November came Communism and Lenin)
George Creel
Head of the Committee on Public Information who persuaded the nation’s artistes and advertising agencies to create thousands of paintings, posters, cartoons, and sculptures promoting the war. He also recruited 75,000 men to serve as “Four-Minute Men” to speak about everything relating to war and topics
war agencies
Wilson created war agencies that would be staffed by volunteers in order for America to contribute supplies to the Allies. Agencies included the:
War Industries Board
set production priorities and established centralized control over raw materials and prices
Food Administration
encouraged Americans to eat less meat and bread so food could be shipped abroad for troops
Fuel Administration
efforts to save coal; nonessential factories shut down and daylight savings time went into effect
National War Labor Board
helped mediate disputes between labor and business
Espionage Act
1917-This law, passed after the United States entered WWI, imposed sentences of up to twenty years on anyone found guilty of aiding the enemy, obstructing recruitment of soldiers, or encouraging disloyalty. It allowed the postmaster general to remove from the mail any materials that incited treason or insurrection.
Sedition Act
1918-Made it a crime to criticize the government or government officials. Opponents claimed that it violated citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, guaranteed by the First Amendment. About 2000 people jailed, half convicted (Eugene Debs)
Schenck v. US
1919 Supreme Court case in which the constitutionality of the Espionage Act was upheld in a case of a man who was imprisoned for distributing pamphlets against the draft. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said the right to free speech could be limited when it represented a “clear and present danger” to public safety