The U.S. and WWI (1914-1921)

Question 1

American Expeditionary Force

Answer 1

American military force that served in France in 1917 and 1918 under the command of General Pershing. Both women and Blacks served in the American army during the war, although Black units were segregated and usually had white officers.

Question 2

War Industries Board

Answer 2

board that regulated American industry during WWI. it attempted to stimulate war production by allocating raw materials to factories to aid war effort.

Question 3

Committee on Public Information

Answer 3

agency created during the war whose mission was to spread pro-Allied propaganda through the press and through newsreels. papers were asked to print only articles that were helpful to the war effort

Question 4

Fourteen Points

Answer 4

plan for postwar world that Wilson brought to the Paris Peace Conference. Wilson’s plan proposed open peace treaties, freedom of the seas, arms reductions, and a League of Nations. Britain and France were openly suspicious of these plans, but they supported the creation of a League of Nations.

Question 5

League of Nations

Answer 5

world body proposed by Wilson as part of his 14-point plan. the League was created without the participation of Germany, Bolshevik, and the U.S. which meant it remained a relatively ineffective body throughout its existence.

Question 6

Allied Powers

Answer 6

In WWI, a coalition of France, Russia, and Great Britain. This group opposed the Central Powers in WWI (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy). In WWII, nations that opposed Germany, Italy, and Japan in WWII; led by England, the Soviet Union, and the U.S.

Question 7

Central Powers

Answer 7

the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria that opposed England, France, Russia, and later the U.S. during WWI

Question 8

National Security League

Answer 8

Organization founded in 1914 that preached patriotism and preparation for war. In 1915, they successfully lobbied government officials to set up camps to prepare men for military. They continued to promote patriotism throughout the war and lobbied Congress to limit immigration in 1917.

Question 9

Hun

Answer 9

term used in Allied propaganda during WWI to depict the German soldier as a bloodthirsty beast. WWI was the first time propaganda was used on a widespread scale.

Question 10

Lusitania

Answer 10

British passenger liner with 128 Americans on board that was sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German boat in May 1915. This sinking caused outrage in the U.S. and drew the U.S. closer to war with Germany.

Question 11

Sussex Pledge

Answer 11

a torpedo from a German submarine hit the french passenger liner the Sussex in March 1916 killing and injuring Americans. Wilson demanded Germans refrain from attacking passenger ships and the Germans responded they would temporarily stop the attacks but would resume them if the British continued to block German ports.

Question 12

unrestricted submarine warfare

Answer 12

the German policy announcement in 1917 of having their boats attack all ships attempting to land at British or French ports despite the origin or purpose. Because of this, the rights of the U.S. as a neutral nation were not being maintained, prompting the U.S. to enter the war.

Question 13

Zimmerman Telegram

Answer 13

January 1917 telegram sent by the German foreign minister to Mexico claiming that if Mexico joined forces with Germany, they would help obtain land in the Southwest U.S. which made many Americans believe that war with Germany was necessary.

Question 14

convoy system

Answer 14

when a merchant ship travels with a warship from the U.S. to Europe to ensure trade during wars, specifically WWI + WWII. Firing took place between American and German submarines leading to American losses.

Question 15

Battle of Chateau-Thierry

Answer 15

one of the first battles of WWI battles where soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force fought and suffered severe casualties.

Question 16

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Answer 16

American forces played a decisive role in this September 1918 Allied offensive which was the last major offensive of the war and convinced Germany that a WWI victory was impossible

Question 17

Liberty Bonds

Answer 17

sold to U.S. civilians during WWI. If a holder paid $10 for a bond and held onto it until it matured, they would get $13 back. Bonds financed the war effort and were encouraged by celebrities.

Question 18

Lever Food and Fuel Control Act

Answer 18

August 1917 measure that gave Wilson the power to regulate the production/consumption of food and fuels during wartime. Some in his administration argued for price controls or rationing but Wilson instituted voluntary controls.

Question 19

Progressivism

Answer 19

a movement that desired political and social reform, and was most influential from 1890-1915. Most popular Progressive causes included city reformation, better working conditions, immigrant education, and the regulation of big business.

Question 20

Espionage Act

Answer 20

WWI era regulation passed in 1917 that ordered penalties for citizens who opposed the war or the government. Mandatory prison sentences were also proclaimed for those who interfered with the draft process.

Question 21

Great Migration

Answer 21

migration of large numbers of American blacks to Midwestern/Eastern industrial cities that began during WWI and continued throughout the 1920s. Additional workers were needed in the North and many blacks were motivated to leave the South due to violence.

Question 22

Sedition Act

Answer 22

the House passed this act in 1918, permitting the deportation, fine, or imprisonment of anyone deemed a threat or publishing “false, scandalous, or malicious writing” against the government of the United States

Question 23

King-Crane Commission

Answer 23

The American commission went into various regions of the Middle East after WWI to discover the political future desired by residents of the regions. It was determined that many didn’t want to be controlled by Europe and saw the U.S. as favorable. Predictably, Europe forced the findings of this commission to be kept quiet.

Question 24

irreconcilables

Answer 24

After WWI, a group of U.S. senators who opposed a continued U.S. presence in Europe and prevented the passage of the Versailles Treaty in the Senate.

Question 25

reservationists

Answer 25

the group led by Henry Lodge in the Senate that opposed sections of the Versailles Treaty Wilson brought from Europe in 1919. Reservationists were especially concerned about U.S. troops being a part of the League of Nations without Congress approval.