Key events, figures, and turning points of US involvement in World War I and World War II. Front: the term, event, or figure. Back: a one to two sentence explanation of its significance.
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- Lusitania
- A German U-boat sank this passenger ship in 1915, killing 128 Americans and shifting public opinion toward war.
- Zimmermann Telegram
- Germany's secret proposal to Mexico to attack the US in exchange for territorial rewards; its exposure moved American opinion toward entry into WWI.
- Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
- Germany's policy of sinking ships without warning to enforce its blockade; its resumption in 1917 was a primary cause of American entry into the war.
- American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
- The US military force led by General John J. Pershing that deployed to Europe in 1917; it helped turn the tide of WWI.
- Second Battle of the Marne (1918)
- The last major German offensive, stopped largely by American and French forces; it marked the beginning of the Central Powers' collapse.
- Treaty of Versailles
- The 1919 peace treaty ending WWI that imposed harsh reparations on Germany; the US Senate rejected it, leaving America outside the League of Nations.
- Sedition Act (1918)
- A law criminalizing speech opposing the war; it reflected government efforts to suppress dissent during WWI.
- Selective Service Act (1917)
- The law establishing the military draft for WWI; it raised over 2 million men for the American Expeditionary Forces through conscription.
- Liberty Bonds
- War bonds sold to Americans to finance US involvement in WWI; their sale became a major propaganda and fundraising effort.
- Alvin York
- An American sergeant who single-handedly captured 132 German soldiers in 1918, becoming the most decorated American soldier of WWI.
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Japan's surprise strike on the US naval base on December 7, 1941, killed over 1,100 sailors and brought America into WWII.
- Lend-Lease Act (1941)
- The law allowing the US to provide military aid to Allied nations without immediate payment; it was crucial support before American entry into the war.
- Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)
- Laws prohibiting the US from providing military aid to any belligerent nation; they reflected American isolationism and were repealed as the war threat grew.
- Isolationism
- The pre-WWII American policy of avoiding military alliances and foreign entanglements; it was challenged by Japanese expansion and German aggression.
- Battle of Midway
- A June 1942 naval battle where American forces sank four Japanese aircraft carriers; it marked the turning point in the Pacific War.