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Trench Warfare
At the beginning of WWI, many new technologies were introduced like machine guns. Therefore, armies during WWI were forced to dig trenches into the ground to protect themselves from gunfire. The condition of these trenches was extremely unsterile and dirty which led to many health complications and deaths among soldiers. This type of warfare would be introduced in 1914 but would last until the of the war in 1919. This method would most be used on the Western Front. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
A pivotal event that would spark the beginning of WWI. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary was killed in Sarajevo during a visit to the city to supervise military maneuvers. Ferdinand was shot by a member of the Serbian rebel group called the "Black Hand" named Gavrilo Princip. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
On February 4, 1915, the area around Britain was deemed a warzone according to Germany where merchant ships, that had no military function or association, could be sunk at any time with no warning. The Germans wanted to sink merchant ships from neutral countries supporting the Allies because Britain blocked the North Sea which would carry supplies and goods to Germany. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, the British registered ship called the Lusitania was sunken by a German U-boat. 1,197 people passed away including some Americans. This was important because this incident angered the US and would be considered a cause that would make the US enter WWI. However, the US still remained neutral for two more years after this event. -
Committee of Public Information
The Committee of Public Information was an independent government agency created by President Woodrow Wilson. Its main purpose and mission was to influence public opinion to support the US in the war. This was important because the committee was using propaganda to convince the public to support the US by using mass media. The committee operated from 1917 to 1919. -
Liberty Bonds
A Liberty Bond or a Liberty Loan, was a type of war bond that was used to fund US involvement in WWI. The Liberty Bond program was a joint effort between the US Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve. These bonds were important because they would raise 17 billion dollars for the US military. -
Zimmermann Telegram
On January 17, 1917, the British intercepted and deciphered a telegram sent by a German Foreign Minister named Arthur Zimmermann to the German minister in Mexico named Heinrich von Eckhardt saying that Germany would aid Mexico in getting the territory they lost to the US. However, the US did not receive this deciphered telegram until February 24, 1917. This was a key moment in WWI because this provoked the US to enter WWI on April 6, 1917. -
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
The AEF refers to the American units of the military sent to Europe during WWI. Established on July 5, 1917, by General John Pershing, the AEF was created to aid French and British forces in Europe. Although the US declared war on Germany in April 1917, the AEF did not fully participate in Europe until October 1917. The AEF is significant because it helped provide relief and aid to other Allied forces such as France and Great Britain. -
War Industries Board
On June 28, 1917, the War Industries Board (WIB) was founded. Its main function was to aid in the production of war supplies such as artillery and weapons. Also, this government agency was in charge of negotiating the purchase of supplies between the War Department and the US Navy. The WIB was important because it was the agency that divided up the supplies and handled production. -
Influenza Crisis
The Influenza crisis was a public health crisis that would kill 50 million people. Military camps that were in operation during WWI were locations where the sickness would spread rapidly due to the close living proximity of soldiers. Furthermore, this is significant because it is said that Influenza killed more Americans than combat and weapons did on the fronts in Europe. -
Wilson's Fourteen Points
Wilson's Fourteen Points was a proposal made by US President Woodrow Wilson to provide a plan to establish peace. This document would talk about Wilson's suggestions on how the world could negotiate peace to end WWI. One example of a point that was suggested was the creation of the League of Nations. The Fourteen Points are significant because they would help mediate peace talks to end WWI. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act of 1918 was passed in Congress and signed off by President Wilson. The main function of the Sedition Act was to limit speech that would be disloyal to the US as a country and to the US military. This act was extremely controversial because it was the first example of the US government breaching First Amendment rights by limiting free speech. Ultimately, the Sedition Act was extremely controversial. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the document that was signed to end WWI. Signed in Paris, France, the Treaty of Versailles's terms were what put an end to WWI. The main point of the treaty was to hold Germany responsible for WWI, and heavy sanctions were placed on Germany including the payment of war reparations and dispanding of their military. This treaty is significant because since it placed such heavy sanctions on Germany, many would say that it was a cause of the start of WWII. -
League of Nations
The League of Nations was proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson where it would be an intergovernmental organization that would be made up of different countries around the world in an attempt to establish international cooperation. This organization would last from 1920 to the start of WWII. This organization was significant because it was the first organization whose main purpose was to establish cooperation and peace. -
Bonus Army
In July of 1932, 43,000 protestors, which included 17,000 WWI veterans, took to the streets of Washington DC to demand their bonus cash from serving in WWI. This demonstration took place in the early years of the Great Depression, so many veterans were out of work. Therefore, to help them, they wanted to redeem the cash bonus they were entitled to. This was significant because these veterans wanted payment for serving in WWI to help them financially during the Great Depression.