WW1 Vocab Flashcards
1
Q
Allied Powers
A
- consisted of France, Russia, and Great Britain (later: Italy, USA)
- diplomatic
- created in 1907, called the “Triple Entente”
- opposed central powers
2
Q
Central Powers
A
- consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria
- created before Triple Entente in 1879 → “Triple Alliance”
- diplomatic
3
Q
Neutrality
A
- trouble for US arose as belligerent powers tried to stop supplies from reaching the enemy
- Britain declared naval blockade against Germany, but it also affected US ships, violating their neutrality
4
Q
Submarine Warfare
A
- major part of German naval effort against the allies during WW1
- lead to American participation into war
- Germany threatened any ships that tried to cross their barrier w/ submarine warfare
5
Q
Lusitania
A
- British passenger ship
- it was sunk by German submarine on May 7, 1915
- 123 Americans died
- “unrestricted submarine warfare” → caused US to enter WW1 AGAINST Germany
6
Q
Sussex Pledge
A
- Berlin promised not to sink unarmed and unresisting passenger ships without warning
- violated when German torpedoed a French passengers steamer, the Sussex
- Wilson threatened to break diplomatic relation if they didn’t stop
- Germany agreed and pledged not to
- US could have to persuade the Allies to modify what Berlin regarded as their illegal blockade; Wilson accepted pledge without strings
- Germany broke this in 1917 after jerking strings to get to England before USA entered
- Wilson broke diplomatic relations but refused.
7
Q
Propaganda
A
- Britain commanded war news carried daily to USA newspapers + magazines
- Influencing US public opinion was important → British government ensured supply of stroies of German soldiers committing atrocities in Belgium + German-occupied part of eastern France in American press
8
Q
Russian Revolution (1917)
A
- Russia experiencing huge, crippling social problems due to:
○ these troops being massacred on eastern front
○ lack of contempt leadership
○ shortage of necessities among the Russian people - Russia people overthrew the Czat + his ministers + set up a provisional government
- Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks took over Russia in 1912 → Russia withdrew from war + settled w/ Central Powers
- socialist government was created with Lenin @ top → Americans felt + feared the spread of Communism
9
Q
Zimmerman Note
A
- telegram from Germany’s foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman to the German minister in Mexico City
- Zimmerman urged Mexico to join the Central Powers + in return would help Mexico get territory back that US had acquired
- telegram caused US to enter WW1
10
Q
Fourteen Points
A
- Fourteen items that Pres. Wilson wanted passed in Treaty of Versailles
- called for:
○ open diplomacy
○ self-determination (redraw map, dissolve Ottoman + Austro-Hungarian empires)
○ absolute freedom of negotiation upon the seas → International Relations (open covenants, reduce arms, free trade, meditation of colonial claims)
○ League of Nations (organization of nations meant to prevent future war through international cooperation)
○ Got the commitment of League of Nations + helped to make independent states
11
Q
Committee on Public Information
A
- headed by George Creel
- Purpose: to mobilize peopleś minds for war (USA + abroad)
- tried to get entire US public to support US involvement in WW1
- Creelś organization employed 150,000 workers @ home + overseas
- proved words = weapons
12
Q
Food Administration
A
- administration created to feed wartime America + ally nations
- leader: Herbert Hoover → Quaker-humanitarian
○ mostly because his already-extrovert title of “hero” he acquired by leading a massive charitable drive he fed starving people of war-racked Belgium
13
Q
Selective Service Act (1917)
A
- 1917 law provided for the registration of all USA men between ages of 21 + 30 for military draft
- end of WW1: 24.2 million had registered → 2.8 million inducted into army
- age limit changed later to 18 - 45
14
Q
Espionage Act (1917)
A
- US fed. law passed shortly after entering WW1 → Will’s B Day 1917
- made it a crime for a person to convey infor with intent to interfere with opperation / success of armed forces of US / to promote success of its enemies
- legislation passed @ urging of Pres. Woodrow Wilson (feared widespread dissent in wartime) thinking that it constituted a real threat to an American victory
15
Q
Schenk Vs. US (1919)
A
- decision upholding the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during WW1
- Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a “clear and present danger” of substantive evils
