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
Selective Service Act
This 1917 law provided for the registration of all American men between the ages of 21 and 30 for a military draft. Men were chosen by lottery. By the end of WWI, 24.2 had registered; 2.8 had been inducted into the army. Age limit was later changed to 18 to 45.
American Expeditionary Force
About 2 million Americans went to France as members of this under General John J. Pershing. Included the regular army, the National Guard, and the new larger force of volunteers and draftees and they served as individuals
Fourteen Points
The war aims outlined by President Wilson in 1918, which he believed would promote lasting peace; called for self-determination, freedom of the seas, free trade, end to secret agreements, reduction of arms and a league of nations
Treaty of Versailles
Created by the leaders victorious allies Nations: France, Britain, US (never signed), and signed by Germany to end WWI. The treaty: 1) stripped Germany of all Army, Navy, Airforce.
2) Germany had to pay war reparations (33 billion)
3) Germany had to acknowledge guilt for causing WWI
4) Germany could not manufacture any weapons
5) Germany had to accept French occupation of the Rhineland for 15 years
6) Territories taken from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia are given their independence (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia)
7) Signers have to join League of Nations which includes Article X; that each member nation would stand ready to protect the independence and territorial integrity of the other nations
Big Four
The Big Four were the four most important leaders (on the Allied side) during WWI and at the Paris Peace Conference. They were Woodrow Wilson- USA, David Lloyd George- UK, George Clemenceau- France, and Vittorio Orlando- Italy.
League of Nations
International organization founded in 1919 to promote world peace and cooperation but greatly weakened by the refusal of the United States to join. It proved ineffectual in stopping aggression by Italy, Japan, and Germany in the 1930s.
Henry Cabot Lodge
Led a group of senators during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency known as the “reservationists” during the 1919 debate over the League of Nations.
reservationists
Senators who pledged to vote in favor of the Treaty of Versailles if certain changes were made - led by Henry Cabot Lodge
irreconcilables
Senators opposed to ratification of the Treaty of Versailles on any grounds; lead by isolationists William Borah, Hiram Johnson, and Robert La Follette
Palmer Raids
Prompted by a series of unexplained bombings, these raids were conducted by the Justice department to root out communists, socialists, and anarchists, who they believed were trying to overthrow the government. Led by Mitchell A Palmer 6000 people were arrested, most of them foreign born; 500 including Emma Goldman were deported. Ended when the predicted huge riots on May Day did not take place and people became concerned with abuse of civil liberties.
Red Scare
Most instense outbreak of national alarm, began in 1919. Success of communists in Russia, American radicals embracing communism followed by a series of mail bombings frightened Americans. Attorney General A. MItchell Palmer led effort to deport aliens without due processs, with widespread support. Did not last long as some Americans came to their senses.
