WWI Flashcards: Sussex Pledge

Study Notes

Sussex Pledge

Issued on May 4, 1916, in response to U.S. protests against German unrestricted submarine warfare.
Germany promised not to sink passenger ships and to warn non-military vessels before engaging.
The pledge was violated on February 1, 1917, when Germany resumed attacking American ships.

Versailles Treaty

Signed on June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles in France, concluding WWI.
Harsh terms imposed on Germany included disarmament, loss of territory (Alsace-Lorraine to France), and $33 billion in reparations.
Established the League of Nations to promote international cooperation.

Allies

Also known as the Entente Powers, opposing the Central Powers during WWI.
Original members included France, the British Empire, and the Russian Empire.

14 Point Peace Plan

Proposed by President Woodrow Wilson, aimed at a fair and lasting peace post-WWI.
Key proposals included: no secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade, arms reduction, and the establishment of the League of Nations.
Rejected by allies who felt it was too lenient towards Germany.

Reparations

Financial compensation imposed on Central Powers during the Paris Peace Conference.
Germany was required to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies.

League of Nations

An international organization created after WWI as part of the Treaty of Versailles.
Proposed by Woodrow Wilson; however, the U.S. ultimately chose not to join.

Mobilization

Refers to preparing for war by gathering supplies, personnel, and organizing resources for military deployment.

Genocide

Defined as the deliberate extermination of a large group of people, typically targeting specific ethnicities or nationalities.

Sedition

Any communication or action that promotes insurrection against established authority.

Armistice

A formal agreement between warring parties to cease hostilities temporarily.

Central Powers

Comprised Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire during WWI.

Spark that Started the War

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group, triggered the conflict, following Austria's ban on Serbia's livestock exports.

Stalemate

A situation where neither combatant can secure a decisive victory or advance.

Sinking of the Lusitania

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sunk the British passenger ship, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, heightening tensions leading to U.S. involvement.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Naval warfare tactic employed by Germany, targeting both military and civilian vessels without warning.
The method prompted the Sussex Pledge as a diplomatic response to American concerns.

U-Boat

An abbreviation for "Unterseeboot," referring to German submarines which revolutionized naval warfare.

Convoy System

Implemented in May 1917, merchant and troop ships traveled in groups, protected by armed naval vessels, to minimize losses from U-boat attacks during WWI.

Description

Explore the Sussex Pledge, a significant agreement made during World War I to address American concerns over German U-boat attacks. Learn its implications for US-Germany relations and the eventual disregard for the pledge. This quiz will enhance your understanding of pivotal events that shaped the conflict.

WWI Flashcards: Sussex Pledge

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Questions and Answers

What was the Sussex Pledge?

When was the Versailles Treaty signed?

Who were the Allies in WWI?

What was President Woodrow Wilson's Peace Plan called?

How much were Germany forced to pay in reparations?

What organization was created by the Treaty of Versailles?

What does mobilization refer to?

What is genocide?

What is sedition?

What is an armistice?

Who were the Central Powers?

What event sparked the start of WWI?

Describe the sinking of the Lusitania.

What was unrestricted submarine warfare?

What does 'U-Boat' stand for?

What was the Convoy System?