A History of the United States: Chapter 24: World War I

Much of the tension in Europe in 1914 came from a rise in nationalism, a feeling of intense loyalty to a country or group.

When one nation increased its military strength, its rivals felt threatened and built up as well. This growing militarism pushed Germany, France, and Russia to develop huge armies in the early 1900s.

The military buildup made countries nervous. In response, they created an alliance system in which different nations promised to help one another if any one of them came under attack.

The war in Western Europe became a stalemate, in which neither side could make progress against the other.

Planes took warfare to a new dimension. Both sides used planes to watch troop movements and bomb targets.

The first fighter planes were equipped only with machine guns fastened to the top wing.

Germany had an effective naval weapon of its own: the submarine. Known as U-boats—from the German word Unterseeboot—these submarines sank ships carrying supplies to Britain.

Both sides in the war used propaganda—information designed to influence opinion.

Allied propaganda stressed the German invasion of neutral Belgium.

First, in March 1917, a revolution took place in Russia. The Russian people overthrew their monarchy, which was headed by the czar.

This change in Russia from an autocracy, in which one person with unlimited powers rules, to a more democratic government raised Allies' hopes.

The Allies used convoys, in which teams of navy ships sailed side-by-side with merchant ships across the Atlantic Ocean.

German leaders hoped to break the Allied lines. They wanted to capture the city of Amiens before proceeding to Paris.

On October 4, 1918, the German government asked President Wilson for an armistice, an agreement to end the fighting. Wilson consented, but only under certain conditions.

Mobilization, or the gathering of resources and the preparation for war, affected almost every part of American life.

The Food Administration also encouraged voluntary rationing, or the limitation of use.

Americans consumed less and produced and exported more of many key goods.

Many socialists—people who believe the public should own key industries—opposed the war.

Pacifists—people who oppose the use of violence—were also against the war.

The Committee on Public Information took strong steps to silence dissent. Dissent is disagreement or opposition.

The Sedition Act made it a crime to say, print, or write any criticism perceived as negative about the government...