World War I Key Concepts

Liberty Bonds

• Citizens purchased liberty bonds to provide immediate funds for the government during wartime, earning interest over time.

Zimmerman Note

• In 1917, Germany sent a message to Mexico encouraging it to join the war against the U.S. This note was intercepted, leading to U.S. mobilization against Germany.

Alliance

• An alliance is a coalition formed by countries or parties to support each other during a war.

Armistice

• An armistice refers to an agreement between warring parties to cease hostilities.

Self-Determination

• The principle of self-determination allows ethnic groups the right to govern themselves independently.

Mobilization

• Mobilization involves assembling troops and logistics to prepare a nation for warfare.

Reparations

• Reparations are payments made to compensate for damages caused during warfare.

Stalemate

• A stalemate occurs when no progress is made in a conflict, preventing any advancement by either side.

Pacifists

• Pacifists are individuals who oppose violence and advocate for peaceful resolutions.

Selective Service Act

• Enacted in 1917, the Selective Service Act required males aged 21 to 30 to register for military draft.

Great Migration

• Between 1914 and 1920, over 300,000 African Americans migrated from the rural Southern U.S. to Northern cities seeking better opportunities.

Wilson's Fourteen Points

• Outlined by President Wilson in 1918, the Fourteen Points proposed self-determination, freedom of seas, free trade, reduction of arms, and the establishment of a League of Nations.

League of Nations

• The League of Nations was founded post-World War I to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.

Treaty of Versailles

• The Treaty of Versailles, imposed on Germany in 1920, demanded heavy reparations and included territorial losses for Germany.

Allied Expeditionary Force

• Commanded by General Eisenhower, the Allied Expeditionary Force achieved a significant victory by storming Normandy, France.

Espionage Acts

• Enacted in 1917 and 1918, these laws penalized those who interfered with or criticized U.S. involvement in World War I.

Sedition Act

• The 1918 Sedition Act made it illegal to publicly criticize the government during wartime.

Sussex Pledge

• The Sussex Pledge was Germany's promise to the U.S. to stop unrestricted submarine warfare after threats from President Wilson.

U-boats

• U-boats are German submarines used in warfare to target enemy ships.

Big Four

• The Big Four at the Paris Peace Conference included Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd George (UK), George Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy).

Internationalists

• Internationalists believe the U.S. should be active in promoting global peace, in contrast to isolationist views.

Reservationists

• Led by Henry Cabot Lodge, Reservationists were senators willing to approve the Treaty of Versailles if amendments were made.

Irreconcilable

• Irreconcilables are those who cannot come to a compromise or agreement, particularly regarding the Treaty of Versailles.

369th Regiment

• The 369th Regiment was an African American unit in the U.S. Army during World War I, recognized for its valor.