The U.S. and WWI (1914-1921) Flashcards
American Expeditionary Force
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.
War Industries Board
board that regulated American industry during WWI. it attempted to stimulate war production by allocating raw materials to factories to aid war effort.
Committee on Public Information
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
Fourteen Points
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.
League of Nations
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.
Allied Powers
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.
Central Powers
the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria that opposed England, France, Russia, and later the U.S. during WWI
National Security League
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.
Hun
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.
Lusitania
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.
Sussex Pledge
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.
unrestricted submarine warfare
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.
Zimmerman Telegram
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.
convoy system
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.
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
one of the first battles of WWI battles where soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force fought and suffered severe casualties.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
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
Liberty Bonds
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.
Lever Food and Fuel Control Act
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.
Progressivism
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.
Espionage Act
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.
Great Migration
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.
Sedition Act
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
King-Crane Commission
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.
irreconcilables
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.
reservationists
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.
