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Allies
The Triple Entente, later known as the Allies, consisted of France, Britain, and Russia. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy -
Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary, together with the Ottoman Empire—an empire of mostly Middle Eastern lands controlled by the Turks—were later known as the Central Powers. The alliances provided a measure of international security because nations were reluctant to disturb the balance of power. As it turned out, a spark set off a major conflict. -
1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
shot by Gavrilo Princip, the couple visiting Bosnian capital Sarajevo where he and his wife get assassinated. Triggered Austria-Hungary to declared what was expected to be a
short war against Serbia -
Schlieffen Plan
This plan called for a holding action against Russia, combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris; after France had fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia. -
Committee on Public Information
Propaganda was used to popularize the war, first propaganda comimttee -
Sinking of British liner Lustiania
U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland. Of the 1,198 persons lost, 128 were Americans. The Germans defended their action on the grounds that the liner carried ammunition. -
Battle of Somme
July 1- mid of November, trench warefare
British suffered 60,000 casualties
Final casualties totaled about 1.2 million, yet only about seven miles of ground changed hands -
Sinking of British liner Aravic
August 1915, a U-boat sank another British liner, the Arabic, drowning two Americans. Again the United States protested, and this time Germany agreed not to sink any more passenger
ships -
Sinking of the French passenger liner Sussex
March 1916 Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed
French passenger steamer, the Sussex. The Sussex sank, and about 80 passengers, including Americans died / were injured. -
Second Battle of the Marne
The battle in which tides turn for the central powers and by September, U.S. soldiers began to mount offensives against the Germans at Saint-Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne area. -
War Industries Board
It was established in 1917 and reorganized in 1918 under the leadership of Bernard M. Baruch, The board encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency. It also urged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products -
Espionage and Sedation Acts
A person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or the war effort. -
ZImmermann note
a telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents. The telegram proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany and promised that if war with the United States broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering “lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.” -
Selective Service Act of 1917
The act required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service -
Convoy System
heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups. By fall of 1917 shipping losses were cut by 50% -
Cease-fire and armistice
Germans were too tired of fighting so signed an armistice to end the war (truce) -
Austria-Hungary surrenders to Allies
Nov 3, 1918 Surrender
German sailors mutinied against government authority, groups of soldiers and workers organized revolutionary councils. -
Establishment of German Republic
On November 9, socialist leaders in the capital, Berlin, established a German republic when the Kaiser gave up the throne to Germany -
National War Labor Board
Established by president Wilson, Workers who refused to obey board decisions could lose their draft exemptions. “Work or fight,” the board told them. However, the board also worked to improve factory conditions. It pushed for an eight-hour workday, promoted
safety inspections, and enforced the child labor ban. -
Food Administraion
created by President WIlson under Herbert Hoover, urged people to follow the gospel of the clean plate : one day a week “meatless,”
another “sweetless,” two days “wheatless,” and two other days “porkless.”
