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Chapter 23
America and the Great War 1914-1920
29
History
Undergraduate 1
04/17/2006

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Term
Central Powers
Definition
"Germany and its World War I allies in Austria, Turkey, and Bulgaria"
Term
Allies
Definition
"in World War I, Britain, France, Russia, and other belligerent nations fighting against the Central Powers but not including the United Satates"
Term
Declaration of London
Definition
statement drafted by an international conference in 1909 to clarify international law and specify the rights of neutral nations
Term
Sussex Pledge
Definition
"Germany’s pledge during World War I not to sink merchant ships without warning, on the condition that Britain also observe recognized rules of international laws"
Term
Preparedness
Definition
buildup in preparation for possible U.S. participation in World War I
Term
Self-determination
Definition
the right of a people or a nation to decide on its own political allegiance or form of government without external influence
Term
War Industries Board
Definition
the federal agency that reorganized industry for maximum efficiency and productivity during World War I
Term
Liberty Bonds
Definition
Interest-bearing certificates sold by the U.S. government to finance the American World War I effort
Term
Committee on Public Information
Definition
"Government agency during World War I that sought to shape public opinion in support of the war effort through newspapers, pamphlets, speeches, films, and other media"
Term
Espionage Act
Definition
Law whose vague prohibition against obstructing nation’s war effort was used to crush dissent and criticism during World War I
Term
Sedition Act
Definition
"Broad Law restricting criticism of America’s involvement in World War I or its government, flag, military, taxes, or officials"
Term
Selective Service Act of 1917
Definition
the law establishing the military draft for World War I.
Term
Bolshevik
Definition
Member of the Communist movement in Russia that established the Soviet government after the 1917 Russian Revolution
Term
Treaty of Versailles
Definition
the treaty ending World War I and creating
Term
League of Nations
Definition
International organization created by the Versailles Treaty after World War I to ensure world stability
Term
Irreconcilables
Definition
group of U.S. senators adamantly opposed to ratification of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI
Term
Reservationists
Definition
"group of U.S. senators favoring approval of the Treaty of Versailles, after amending it to incorporate their reservations"
Term
Red Scare
Definition
"post- World War I public hysteria over Bolshevik influence in the United States directed against labor activism, radical dissenters, and some ethic groups"
Term
Triple Alliance
Definition
"was the treaty by which Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy pledged (May 20, 1882) to support each other militarily in the event of an attack against any of them by two or more great powers. Germany and Italy additionally undertook to support one another in the event of attack by France. In a supplementary declaration, however, Italy specified that her undertakings could not be regarded as being directed against the United Kingdom. Shortly after renewing the Alliance in June 1902, Italy secretly extended a similar guarantee to France."
Term
Triple Entente
Definition
"was the alliance formed in 1907 between the United Kingdom, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente. Entente is a French word meaning understanding. The UK had already entered into the Entente Cordiale with France in 1904, (cordiale, French for cordial) while France had concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894"
Term
Proclamation of Neutrality
Definition
"issued by George Washington on April 22, 1793, declared the United States a neutral nation in the conflict between Great Britain and France that had begun with the French Revolution. It was a controversial decision at the time. Some in Washington's cabinet, especially Thomas Jefferson, felt that it was the United States' duty to aid the French as they had aided the Americans in their revolution and as outlined in the 1778 Treaty of Alliance. Others, especially Alexander Hamilton, felt it was in the United States' best interest to side with Britain in this conflict, as the friendship this would create could spur friendly trade between America and Britain in the future. Washington eventually decided to avoid choosing and potentially splitting the nation."
Term
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Definition
type of naval warfare in which submarines sink merchant ships without warning; Germany decided in February 1915 to use its submarines against Allied shipping in a war zone around the British Isles
Term
Lusitania
Definition
"a British passenger liner which, in may 1915, was sunk by a German submarine"
Term
Sussex
Definition
"a French ship which, in April 1916, was torpedoed by a German submarine, injuring 4 Americans; this spawned the Sussex pledge"
Term
Zimmerman Telegram
Definition
"a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on January 16, 1917, to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt, at the height of World War I. It instructed the ambassador to approach the Mexican government with a proposal to form an alliance against the United States. It was intercepted and decoded by the British and its contents hastened the entry of the United States into World War I"
Term
Railroad Administration
Definition
"created in 1966 as a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation to promote safe, environmentally sound, successful rail transportation"
Term
National War Labor Board
Definition
"In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson established the National War Labor Board (NWLB) which was composed of representatives from business and labor. Its purpose was to arbitrate disputes between workers and employers. Capitalizing on labor shortages during America's entrance into World War I, unions led by Samuel Gompers under the American Federation of Labor organized mass strikes for tangible gain. With more than 1200 cases heard the board ruled in favor of labor more often than not."
Term
Wilson’s 14 points
Definition
"Wilson articulated U.S. war aims in his 14 points; The allies didn’t explicitly support Wilson’s program; Domestic political affairs undermined Wilson’s position at the Paris peace conference 8 of the points proposed creating new nations, shifting old borders, or assuring self-determination for peoples previously subject to the Austrian, German, or Russian empire.Another 5 points invoked principles to guide international relations: freedoms of the seas, open diplomacy instead of secret treaties, reduction of armaments, free trade, and the fair settlement of colonial claims.14th point proposed a league of nations to carry out these ideals and ensure international stability"
Term
A. Mitchell Palmer
Definition
"created a new agency, headed by J. Edgar Hoover, to suppress radicals and impose conformity"
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