Immigrant perspectives
Why did German-Americans oppose U.S. involvement in WWI?
They did not want to fight against people from their homeland.
What was the significance of the Lusitania sinking?
It was a British ocean liner that was sunk by a U-boat, killing American passengers and raising U.S. hostility toward Germany.
How did the war impact women's roles in the workplace?
Women filled jobs traditionally held by men who went to war.
What were the Espionage and Sedition Acts?
Laws that punished Americans for speaking against the war or the government. Challenged the 1st amendment.
What was the Convoy System used by the U.S. Navy?
Military ships escorted merchant ships across the Atlantic to protect them from German U-boats.
What was the stance of Irish-Americans towards the war?
They did not want to fight side by side with British troops.
Describe the Russian Revolutions of 1917.
The Czar was ousted in Spring 1917 and replaced with a representative government, but later the Bolsheviks took control.
What direct contributions did women make to the war effort?
They served in the Army Corps of Nurses and the Red Cross.
How did Eugene V. Debs' arrest relate to freedom of speech?
He was arrested for anti-war sentiments, which was seen as a violation of free speech.
Which was one of the conditions that the U.S. military insisted on as it joined the fighting in Europe?
It would maintain separate units from the French and British
What was the Jewish-American perspective on fighting alongside Russian troops?
They did not want to fight alongside Russian troops due to past persecution.
What was the Zimmerman Note and its impact on U.S. sentiment?
A letter from Germany to Mexico promising lands in exchange for support against the U.S., which increased hostility towards Germany.
What was the effect of the war on women's suffrage?
Women were given the right to vote as recognition for their contributions to the war effort.
Explain the significance of the Schenck v. U.S. case.
It involved the arrest of a man for discouraging draft sign-ups, highlighting limits on free speech during wartime.
Describe General John J. Pershing's approach in WWI.
He insisted that American troops fight in separate units rather than integrating with Allied forces.
Describe the position of native-born Americans of Western European descent regarding the war.
They mostly supported U.S. involvement, especially on the side of the British & French.
Explain the purpose of the Selective Service Act of 1917.
It required young men to sign up for the draft, increasing the Army significantly.
Describe the experiences of African-American soldiers during WWI.
They served in segregated units, mostly in non-combat roles, with some exceptions.
How did American culture change regarding German influences during the war?
Schools stopped teaching German, and music by German composers was banned.
Establishment of the League of Nations
What were the views of isolationists in America during WWI?
They believed the war in Europe was none of America’s business.
What roles did the War Industries Board and Food Administration play in the war effort?
They regulated war-related industries and increased food production to support troops.
What were the push and pull factors of the Great Migration?
Push factors included escaping segregation and violence; pull factors included economic opportunities in the North.
What was the impact of the war on newspapers and music in America?
German names were changed to more patriotic names, and the public was discouraged from reading German newspapers.
When did the armistice ending WWI occur, and what were the casualties?
The armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, resulting in over 10 million soldier deaths and approximately 9 million civilian deaths.