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Allies
In World War I, the group of nations - originally consisting of Great Britain, France, and Russia and later joined by the United States, Italy, and others - that opposed the Central Powers. -
Central Powers
The group of nations - led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire - that opposed the Allies in World War I. -
1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, visited the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, but was shot by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip -
Schlieffen Plan
A German strategy when they invaded Belgium. The plan was a holding action against Russia, combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris, and after France had fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia. -
Sinking of British liner Lusitania
The British liner Lusitania sank off the southern coast of Ireland. The German U-boats were responding to the British blockade with a counterbockade in which any Allied or British ship found in British waters would be sunk. They defended their attack against the Lusitania by stating they thought the ship had ammunition. 1,198 people died. -
Sinking of British liner Arabic
Wilson refused to carry out a military response after the sinking of Lusitania. Then a U-boat sank another British liner, the Arabic. The US protested against Germany, and Germany promised to not sink any more passenger ships -
Sinking of French Passenger Liner Sussex
Germany again broke its promise and attacked a French passenger liner the Sussex. America warned that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany stopped targeting innocent ships. Germany responded by stating that the US must first persuade Great Britain to lift blockade against food and fertilizers. -
Battle of the Somme
In the First Battle of the Somme, the Brittish lost 60,000 soldiers. In the trench warfare of the battle, the total casualties were 1.2 million, in only seven miles of land. -
The Zimmermann Note
A telegram from the German foreign minister to the German Ambassador in Mexico was intercepted by British agents. It read that Germany would support Mexico against the US and help recover lost land, if war in the US broke out. -
Selective Service Act of 1917
Congress passed this act, which required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service. This would help the US to gain the needed fighting power. -
Convoy System
Implemented by American Vice Admiral William S. Sims, this protected merchant ships from German submarine attacks by having the ships travel in large groups escorted by warships. -
War Industries Board
An agency established to during World War I to increase efficiency and discourage waste in war-related industries. Established in 1917 and reorganized in 1918 under the leadership of Bernard M. Baruch, a prosperous business man. -
Food Administration
To help produce and conserve food, Wilson set up the Food Administration under Herbert Hoover, which called for people to waste less food by finishing their plates, planting victory gardens, buying locally, and saving the wheat, meat, and fat for the soldiers and eating less of the staples, which Hoover set a high government price. -
National War Labor Board
To deal with the union uprisings and unfair working conditions imposed by management, President Wilson established the National War Labor Board in 1918. Although workers are forced to obey board decisions, lest they lose their draft exemptions, the board also worked to improve factory conditions, create an eight-hour workday, promote safety inspections, and enforce the child labor ban. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Two laws, enacted in 1917 and 1918, that imposed harsh penalties on anyone interfering with or speaking against U.S. participation in World War I -
Committee on Public Information
To popularize the war, the government set up the nation's first propaganda agency, headed by former muckracking journalist George Creel. -
Second Battle of the Marne
US helped the French defeat the Germans and turned the tide against the Central Powers. -
Austria-Hungary Surrenders to the Allies
Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies. German sailors mutinied against government authority and everywhere in Germany, groups of soldiers and workers organized revolutionary councils. -
Establishment of the German Republic
Socialist leaders in the capital, Berlin, established a German republic, and the kaiser gave up the throne. -
Cease-Fire and Armistice
Too exhausted to fight, the Germans agreed to a cease-fire and signed the armistice, or truce, that ended the war.
