Unit #7 Flashcards
Moral (Missionary) Diplomacy
Wilson ideal stating that the US would intervene in other countries only to spread democracy and things that would be better for the foreign countries.
US Intervention in Mexico
Mexico had traditionally been exploited so the Mexican people revolted and General Victoriano Huerta became president. This lead to a massive influx of Mexicans into America but Woodrow Wilson would not intervene. After American soldiers were arrested in Tampico, Wilson ordered the navy to take over vera cruz. Argentina, Brazil and Chile mediated the situation and Huerta was replaced by Carranza (who resented US intervention).
Pancho Villa & John J. Pershing
During the time of US intervention in Mexico, this bandit murdered 16 Americans. Wilson sent General John J. Pershing to capture Villa where he clashed with Carranza and Villa but didn’t capture Villa.
Causes of WWI
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism & Nationalism (MAIN)
Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (beginning of war)
Allied Powers
France, Britain, Russia
Triple Entente
France Britain, Russia (beginning of war)
Central Powers
Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire
Archduke Franz Ferdinand & Gavrilo Princip
Austria-Hungarian heir to the throne king killed by a Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. They triggered the domino-effect and caused World War I.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
At the start of WWI, he convinced most of the US to be anti-German (although Germans and Austria-Hungarians counted on their relatives for help) because he was an autocrat. His ruthless image was bolstered when Germany striked at neutral Belgium to get to France.
Schlieffen Plan
A German general had an idea of how to deal with the Eastern Front and the Western Front. The Germans would knock out France with a lightening attack through Belgium, then they would attack Germany. The plan assumed that France would be weak and Russia would be slow.
Eastern Front
Boundary between Russia and Germany.
Western Front
Boundary between France and Germany.
Trench Warfare
American Neutrality
As WWI began, America was in a business recession and trade bolstered their economy. The Allies and Wallstreet’s financing of the war pulled the US out of recession. Due to the British Blockade, Germany began sinking ships. Then, the Lusitania along with the Zimmerman Telegram caused the US to enter the war.
British Blockade
While trade between the US and Central Powers weren’t taboo, Britain threw mine and ships across the North Sea so that Germany couldn’t trade with the US.
U-Boat Campaign
In response the Britain’s Blockade, Germany began to use submarine warfare around the British Isles. They stated to the US that they would try not to hit neutral ships but mistakes would occur.
The Lusitania
German U-Boats sank this British passenger liner called the Lusitania that was carrying munitions as well. 128 Americans died and America clamored for war in punishment but Wilson kept the US out of the war with a series of strong notes to the German warlords. The warlords promised to stop sinking unarmed ships without warning.
Robert Lansing
When the US was discussing whether to join WWI or not, the current secretary of the state - William Jennings Bryan - is replaced by this man.
Sussex Pledge
Wilson sent notes to German warlords after the Lusitania, the Germans agreed not to sink unarmed ships without warning. After the agreement Germany broke the promise by sinking the Sussex. The follow Sussex pledge declared that Germany would not sink unarmed ships without warning if the US could convince Britain to stop their blockade.
Preparedness Campaign
Prior to US entry into the war some Americans (Theodore Roosevelt as the most prominent) thought the US should increase military capabilities and that the US should intervene in the conflict.
Naval Construction Act
The Wilson Administration backed plans to significantly expand the Navy.
National Defense Act
The Wilson Administration expands the size and scope of the national guard and guarantee its status as the nation’s permanent reserve force. The socialist party and the women’s peace party opposed.
William Jennings Bryan
This US Secretary of State resigned due to his concern over Wilson’s handling of the crisis of the Lusitania.
Woman’s Peace Party
Opposed the war and the legislation passed by the Wilson administration that bolstered the military.
Jeanette Rankin
The first congresswoman from Montana. She voted against WWI and would later vote against WWII.
“Armed Neutrality”
The US didn’t align itself with the Triple Entente or the Triple Alliance, but armed itself against any invasions.
Election of 1916
Woodrow Wilson wins barely beats the Republican candidate Charles Evan Hughes. Hughes made different pledges and said different things depending on where he was. Wilson lead with the “he kept us out of war” campaign. Theodore Roosevelt was nominated as the Progressive candidate but he didn’t want to split the republican party and when he refused to run the progressive party died.
Last Steps to WWI
Woodrow Wilson made a final attempt to avert war that declared only “peace without victory” would be lasting. Germany had decided that a distinction between combatant and noncombatant was a luxury they couldn’t afford so Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare. Then, the Zimmerman note was intercepted. When a revolution in Russia topples the regime, Congress declared war.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germany’s U-Boats began to fire on armed and unarmed ships in the war zone because Germany decided that distinction between combatant and noncombatant was a luxury they couldn’t afford.
Zimmerman Note
Written by a German foreign secretary, it proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico. It proposed that if Mexico fought against the US and the Central Powers won, Mexico could recover land lost in the Mexican-American war.
Russian Revolution
The revolution against the Czarist government which led to the creation of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic by the Bolsheviks and Lenin.
Wilson’s War Message
To gain enthusiasm for the war, Wilson came up with the idea of America entering the war to “make the world safe for democracy”. He claimed there were no riches or territorial conquests.
Fourteen Points
The main points for idealistic goals for peace were no more secret treaties, freedom of the seas, a removal of economic barriers, reduction of armament burdens, adjustment, adjustment of colonial claims in the interest of natives, “self-determination” and a League of Nations.
Define Self-Determination.
Independence for oppressed minority groups who’d chose their government.
The A.E.F.
The American Expeditionary Forces: US armed forces that went to fight in Europe.
George Creel
Head of the Committee on Public Information, he oversold some of the ideals and the result would be disastrous disillusionment.
Committee on Public Information
It was created to “sell” the war to those people who were against it or just gain support for it. The organization used propaganda such as posters, billboards, pamphlets, and speeches to support the war.
Trading With the Enemy Act
Generic name for legislation that is passed during an approaching war that prohibit acts that might assist the enemy along with mercantile activities with foreign nationals,
Espionage Act of 1918 and the Sedition Act of 1918
These shows American fears and paranoia about Germans and others perceived as a threat.
Industrial Workers of the World
Antiwar Socialists and the members of this radical union that were prosecuted, arrested, and sent to prison. Some engineered industrial sabotage.
Bernard Branch
Head of the War Industries Board
War Industries Board
In trying to mobilize fore th war, no one knew how mush America could produce and laissez-faire economic provided resistance to government control of the economy. This group never had much power and disband after the armistice.
National War Labor Board
Headed by former President Taft, this organization settled possible labor difficulties that might hamper war efforts. It set high wages, and 4 hour workday, and the right to unionize. Also created a “work or fight” mentality for men.
Effect of the War on African Americans
As workers left for the war more jobs were open for African-Americans to participate in.
Great Migration
During the war, Black immigrated to the North to find more jobs in the war-industry.
East St. Louis Race Riots
The Great Migration caused Blacks to move into all-White towns and sparked violence. They were triggered by an incident at the beach where white people threw stones at the young black boy in the water causing him to drown. 15 whites and 23 blacks died when steel owners brought African-Americans in to break a stroke when 250,000 steelworkers walked off the job.
Effect of the War on Women
Women found more opportunities in the workplace. The war split the progressive movement because most women were pacifists and most women believed supporting the war if they wanted to get the vote.
Food Administration
Organized a successful food drive for people in Belgium. It spurned ration cards in favor of “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays”.
Herbert Hoover
Head of the food administration, he whipped up a patriotic spirit that encouraged people to voluntarily sacrifice for the war.
18th Amendment
The wave of self-sacrifice started by the Food Administration sped up the drive against alcohol and so this amendment prohibited the sale, distribution, or consumption of alcohol.
19th Amendment
Women’s suffrage was gained in 1920.
Liberty Bonds/Loans
Money was raised through the sale of war bonds, four great liberty loan drives, and increased taxes.
Selective Service Act
Passed in 1917, this act required men 21-30 to to register for the military. It ran heated opposition in Congress but was passed. Unlike the last draft, people could not pay their way out of being drafted.
Bolshevik Revolution
Communist Bolsheviks seized power and withdrew their troops from the capitalistic war in early 1918.
Schenk vs. US
Schenk was convicted for mailing pamphlets urging potential army inductees to resists conscription. Justice Holmes claimed that Congress could restrict speech if the words are used to create a clear danger.
ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union: After the communist revolution people potential communists in the US were arrested unlawfully. This union emerged to take a stand.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty to end the war between Britain and Russia. Poland, Finland and Baltic States were taken from Russia and Ukraine was granted independence.
US Combat Experience
It took about a year for Americans to get to Europe due to transportation problems. The first groups were replacements for the British and French and were poorly trained.
John J. Pershing
When the Americans demanded their own army instead of supporting Britain and French this general lead the front.
Hindenburg Line
During the Battle of Argonne Forest was a part of the final Allied offensive. This line was the area the whole offensive was focused on breaching and ultimately this forced the German troops to surrender.
Armistice & The Fourteen Point
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Germans laid down their arms after overthrowing their Kaiser. They hope to get peace based on the 14 points.
1918 Congressional Elections
At the height of his popularity Wilson pushed for a democratic victory in 1918, instead the Republicans got a majority. Wilson ended up going to the paris peace conference as the only leader of the Allies not commanding a majority at home.
