World War I Review Terms (Period 7)

Sedition Act

Broad law restricting criticism of America's involvement in World War 1 or its government, flag, military, taxes or officials. Passed to control the country's responses to the war. The Sedition Act of 1918 censored any media that threatened or criticized the United States government or its ideas. Mail was searched and anything that violated the act would be confiscated and intercepted.

Central Powers

Germany and Austria-Hungary and later including the Ottoman Empire(Turkey) and Bulgaria. Germany was left responsible for laying try war guilt clause after their loss in the war.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of 11 November 1918. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, and was one of a series of Allied attacks known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end. The battle cost 28,000 German lives and 26,277 American lives, making it the largest and bloodiest operation of World War I for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). American losses were due to the inexperience of many of the troops and tactics used during the early phases of the operation.

League of Nations

founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. Its primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. Ideally, every country in the world was to join the League and contribute to world peace. One of Wilson's fourteen points.

Fourteen Points/Self-Determination

president Woodrow Wilson was convinced that if they followed these 14 points in the treaty, then peace would continue around the world. A few of the points were: 1- eliminate the causes of wars by calling for an end to secret agreements and alliances, and protecting freedom of the seas. 2- ensure the right to self-determination so ethnic groups and nationalists could live under government of their own choosing. 3- the last of the fourteen points called for setting up a League of Nations to ensure world peace. Self-Determination is when a country is allowed to establish their own government. Successes: Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and former Russian states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania all gained independence. Failures: Parts of Germany were given to France, Poland, Denmark and Belgium, with little thought about the desires of the people living there Italy gained territory that was home to the Austrians. Britain, France, Italy, and Japan grabbed German colonies in China, the Pacific and Africa. League of Nations gave Britain and France areas in Southwest Asia that had once been controlled by the Ottoman Empire and They were to govern these areas as mandates. Supposed to be under temporary control until they could stand alone, which wasn't what happened in reality.

The Great Migration

put African Americans in support of the war effort when they finally began to feel accepted by the people in the northern United States. Beginning during World War I, the mass movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North and Midwest in order to take jobs in industry. Chicago, New York City, Cleveland, and other cities saw an explosion of black residents. Whites suddenly found themselves competing with blacks for jobs and housing. In some places, racial tensions sparked riots. During the "red summer" of 1919, blood flowed in many cities, including the nation's capital. One of the worst race riots broke out in East St. Louis, Illinois, after a factory owner brought in black workers to break a strike. At least 39 African Americans and 9 whites died before peace could be restored. Unlike in the past, blacks surprised their attackers by fighting back.

Unrestricted submarine warfare

1915, Germany declared the waters around Britain a war zone and could sink enemy ships without warning (unrestricted submarine warfare). Wilson protested that sinking merchant ships without protecting the lives of passengers and crews violated international law. He warned that the United States would hold Germany to "strict accountability" for any American casualties in such attacks. When Germany did accidentally kill over 100 Americans on the Lusitania, they were forced to sign the Sussex pledge- a 1916 German agreement to begin giving advance warning of submarine attacks on ocean liners and to spare the lives of passengers and crew.

Liberty Bonds

A war bond that was sold in the United States to support the allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time. Not only did they show the dedication of the people and how well the CPI is doing their job, but they helped to pay for the war costs like supplies and troops.

U-Boat

Germany found a way to challenge the British blockade: submarine attack. Their deadly new weapon was the U-boat- a German submarine that was the first employed in warfare. 1915, Germany declared the waters around Britain a war zone and could sink enemy ships without warning (unrestricted submarine warfare). Wilson protested that sinking merchant ships without protecting the lives of passengers and crews violated international law. He warned that the United States would hold Germany to "strict accountability" for any American casualties in such attacks.

Committee on Public Information (CPI)

Government agency during WWI that sought to shape public opinion in support of the war effort through news papers, pamphlets, speeches, films and other media. Established when Wilson first established war with Germany and decided to get involved. Wilson appointed the progressive journalist George Creel to lead the CPI. This put Creel in charge of determining what information the public would and would not receive. They recruited nearly 75,000 volunteers to speak up and support the war effort if need be.

MAIN Causes

Militarism: the glorification of military power and values. Two-power rule: Britain had to have a navy twice as big as the next biggest navy however Germany tried to compete against England's naval superiority (arms race). Alliances: this system required member nations to come to one another's aid in case of attack. Imperialism: competition for trade and colonies further strained relations. Nationalism: a strong feeling of pride and loyalty to one's nation.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, made an official visit to Sarajevo, a highly Serbian populated city in Austria-Hungary. As they rode in their car around the city, there were attempts to bomb their car by Serbians trying to kick Austria-Hungarians out of Sarajevo and extend their border. After multiple failed attempts, the driver of Ferdinand and his Wife's car took a wrong turn and gave Gavrilo Princip, one of the terrorists who backed out of his first attempt to kill Ferdinand, another chance. Later that day they went back out into the city to visit people who were harmed in the bombings aimed towards them in the hospital and Gavrilo Princip fired several shots into their car, killing the royal couple.

Lusitania

On May 7, 1915, a U-Boat sank the British Lusitania (an unarmed British ocean liner) without warning. Germany tried to justify it because it was carrying ammunition. Wilson demanded Germany stop unrestricted submarine warfare. This caused the Sussex pledge: a 1916 German agreement to begin giving advance warning of submarine attacks on ocean liners and to spare the lives of passengers and crew. The sinking of the Lusitania eventually resulted in the United States involvement in World War I.

The Big Four/Goals of the Conference

United States: wanted peace through 14 points. Great Britain: demanded harsh treatment of Germany. Wanted to rebuild Britain and Germany to pay reparations and they wanted Germany to assume full blame for the war (war-guilt clause). France: fierce anti-German policy. Wanted to weaken Germany so it can never again threaten them. Italy: wanted lands from Austria-Hungary that was promised to them (this violated the 14 points). Other countries and groups of people: wanted self-determination, which proved difficult because of overlapping territory.

A Policy of Neutrality

Woodrow Wilson declared a policy of neutrality stating that the United States would not take sides and would offer loans and sell supplies to both sides. In 1914, America had more than 32 million Americans that were immigrants and found it hard to remain neutral. Fighting in Europe led to a stalemate (neither side could make a useful move or deadlock). Britain and Germany looked for ways to starve their enemies into submission. Britain set up a blockade for ships carrying vital supplies to the Central Powers- even ships from the neutral United States. President Wilson complained but he didn't do anything because United States banks and businesses were earning millions of dollars from loans and exports to the allies and made less money supplying the central powers.

War Industries Board (WIB)

a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies. The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products.

Zimmerman Note

a coded telegram that German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman sent to German embassy minister in Mexico proposing that if the United States entered the war, Mexico and Germany should become allies and Germany would then help Mexico regain "lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona." It helped influence the United States to declare war on Germany five weeks later. The note created a sensation in the United States and stirred anti-German feeling. In April of 1917 the United States declared war on Germany.

Trench Warfare

a form of defensive warfare in which armies conduct attacks on each other from opposition positions in fortified trenches. Originated in WWI, allowed for little progress to be made during war. Caused many stalemates. Each side dug multiple lines of trenches, often in zigzag patterns to make it hard for enemy sharpshooters to hit soldiers. Closest to the enemy's trenches lay the frontline trenches. From opposing front line trenches, soldiers hurled grenades and fired machine guns at one another. Behind the frontline trenches, soldiers dug a line of supply trenches. These held ammunition, other supplies, and communication equipment. In a third line of reserve trenches, weary soldiers rested before returning to the front lines. In the course of trench duty, soldiers rotated through the frontline, supply, and reserve trenches.

Machine Gun

a rapid-firing weapon and the first truly automatic gun. A soldier using a machine gun, which spit out 600 bullets per minute, did not have to stop as often to reload. This made military commanders realize that machine guns could make a greater effect when grouped together. In fact, the Germans created separate machine gun companies to support the infantry. The invention of the machine gun had a major impact on military strategy. Armies accustomed to taking the offensive and attacking head-on were now at a disadvantage. A group of well-placed machine gunners could stop the advance of a much larger force. German forces learned this lesson quickly, but the British and French did not. Allied armies charged across open fields toward enemy lines, only to be mowed down by machine gun fire, leading to thousands of casualties. In September 1915, British infantry units, each comprising about 10,000 men, charged a well-protected German position. In four hours, more than 8,000 men were killed, almost all by machine gun fire. At first, machine guns were used mostly for defense, because soldiers found them too heavy and bulky to carry in an offensive attack. Over time, both sides found ways to mount these weapons on aircraft and to use them on warships.

Gas

chemical weapons that contain a poisonous substance, which utilize toxic agents such as poison gas to kill or harm many people. Germany was the first to use poison gas in World War I. In time, the British and French did as well. The deadliest chemical used was odorless mustard gas. This caused huge, painful blisters, blindness, and lethal damage to the lungs. Those who survived a mustard gas attack often had lifelong injuries. Early on, soldiers simply released mustard gas from cylinders and relied on the wind to carry it across no-man's land to the enemy. However, shifting winds often blew the gas back on the sender's trenches. Both sides eventually found ways to put poison gas into the shells they fired at each other. In time, both sides developed gas masks to protect their troops from these attacks.

Allied Powers

headed by France, Britain, and Russia and later including Portugal, Japan, Italy and the United States

Victory gardens

home vegetables gardens that glorified the war and promoted the War Industries Board. If everyone began to have Victory gardens, then they would stop needing to buy all the food from United States suppliers. This would allow more food to be sent overseas and contribute to the war effort. Called victory gardens because the more people that would have them, the higher the chance the United States had at victory during the war.

Sussex pledge

in 1916, Germany agreed to begin giving advance warning of submarine attacks on ocean liners and to spare the lives of passengers and crew. Was a result of the sinking of the Lusitania and unrestricted submarine warfare. The pledge was important in saving lives of passengers but taking anything transported on the ships.

American Expeditionary Force

in World War I, the first U.S. military force to be deployed to France (AEF). They were nicknamed "the doughboys." The AEF fought under the command of General John J. Pershing, and most were infantry (soldiers who fought on foot). Although few in number, the American infantry bolstered the Allies' morale.

Selective Service Act

law passed by Congress in 1917 to create a national draft. The act required all men ages 21 to 30 to register for military service at local polling stations. This was the first time the U.S. government had established a draft before entering a war. This act was the solution to gaining tens of thousands of soldiers in just a few months for the United States.

Reparations

money contributed to paying for the cost of war damage in a country. In World War One, Germany was responsible for paying to the $33 billion worth of reparations after the war.

Irreconcilables

rejected the treaty in any form. Were completely against the Treaty of Versailles, wanted no part in the League of Nations, which might draw the nation into a new war.

Internationalists

supported the treaty and the league. believed that greater cooperation among nations could work for the benefit of all. Most Senate Democrats were internationalists.

War-guilt clause

the conclusion reached during the Treaty of Versailles that Germany would assume full responsibility for the war. Their punishments were to pay $33 billion in Reparations, Limited the size of the military, they were Forbidden to have submarines or an Air Force, their Navy could consist of only six battleships, their Army could consist of just 100,000 men to only be used for self defense, they were Not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France. The allies Removed hundreds of miles from Western and Eastern Germany, Return Alsace and Lorraine to France and Took overseas colonies.

The Treaty of Versailles

when all the allied powers met up to come to a conclusion on how they should end the war and try to prevent another war this major from occurring. They settled on creating the League of Nations (the first international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace) and establishing the war guilt clause that left Germany responsible for the entire war.

Section 2-A War of Firsts for the United States

when the Selective service act was passed, WW1 became the first time the United States government had established a draft before entering a war. The first American soldiers on French soil came from the AEF or American Expeditionary Force. As soon as they arrived, morale for the Allies was boosted despite the small numbers the AEF put up.

Reservationists

would not accept the treaty unless certain changes were met. Most concerned about article 10 of the League of Nations charter, which requires member nations to work together-and even supply troops- to keep the peace. Republican senator Henry Cabot Lodge, was the leader of the reservationists.