WWI and the 1920s Flashcards
(46 cards)
What did President Wilson establish right before World War One?
The Federal Reserve – the government managed the “central bank” (essentially a better national bank than Hamilton’s had been)
18th amendment (and when?)
1919, the 18th Amendment instituted prohibition
19th amendment (and when?)
1920, the 19th Amendment gave women “suffrage” (the right to vote)
World War I was a war between:
the major powers of Europe, Japan, and eventually the US
The Triple Entente: France, Britain, Russia
The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
How WWI started
1914
Serbian Nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria-Hungary)
Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria-Hungary, suspected Serbia was involved
Activated web of allianced in Europe
What happened after the web of alliances sprung up, separating the war into two sides?
Both sides asked the US to get involved
What did President Wilson say about both sides of the war asking the US to get involved?
US citizens should stay neutral in thought and action
US geography helped but trade would change this
What was U.S. non-involvement encouraged by?
American Political Tradition
(avoid foreign alliances, but not commerce -Washington)
What was the “Schlieffen Plan”?
German goal: try to quickly defeat France before Russia could get involved
What were the 2 problems with neutrality?
Money and Attitudes
European war demand for US products rose spectacularly
American Economic Boom
Wilson wanted to promote democracy around the world
Wilson’s democratic idealism
prompted interference in the Mexican Revolution (which began in 1910)
interfered economically in WWI before fighting
What was the Triple Entente seen as?
“Anglo Saxon” medieval English ancestors (why would that matter?)
also more obviously democratic
What was Germany/Austria-Hungary/Turkey seen as?
authoritarian
(favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom.)
How much money did the US give Germany during the war?
$27 million
How much money did the US give the allies during the war?
$2 billion
What was Germany conducting around Britain?
Unrestricted submarine warfare (attack civilian ships)
What was Wilson’s reaction to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare?
Protest: subs broke US natural rights
What did the Germans do to England and the US in 1915?
In 1915, the Germans sunk the British passenger ship the LUSITANIA
(carrying war supplies)
128 Americans on board
Wilson and American public angry
Immediate cause of American entry to WWI
January 1917: Zimmerman Telegram
Germany suggested that Mexico should attack US
February 1917: Germany resumed unrestricted sub warfare
US declared war in April
New types of war
Global war (inclusion of colonies; every continent involved)
Total war (unrestricted weapons)
countries devoted all resources enlisting citizens (rationing drafts, financial contributions)
T or F: probably the best war to be a soldier
FALSE: it was probably the WORST war to be a soldier
What was one of the main flaws of WWI?
19th-century ideas (tactics, strategies, attitudes) about warfare ran into 20th-century technology
20th century war technology
Machine Guns
large artillery
barbed wire
poison gas
flamethrowers
airplanes
Trench warfare developed
Why did Russia leave the war in 1917?
Feb. 1917 - Tsar deposed, provisional gov’t takes control. Russia is still at war.
Germany sent Russian exile VLADIMIR LENIN into Russia to foment revolution
Led to a Communist Revolution in October 1917, beginning of USSR (made peace with Germany)
