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
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A German U-boat sank this passenger ship in 1915, killing 128 Americans and shifting public opinion toward war.- Zimmermann Telegram
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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
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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)
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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)
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The last major German offensive, stopped largely by American and French forces; it marked the beginning of the Central Powers' collapse.- Treaty of Versailles
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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)
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A law criminalizing speech opposing the war; it reflected government efforts to suppress dissent during WWI.- Selective Service Act (1917)
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The law establishing the military draft for WWI; it raised over 2 million men for the American Expeditionary Forces through conscription.- Liberty Bonds
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War bonds sold to Americans to finance US involvement in WWI; their sale became a major propaganda and fundraising effort.- Alvin York
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An American sergeant who single-handedly captured 132 German soldiers in 1918, becoming the most decorated American soldier of WWI.- Attack on Pearl Harbor
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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)
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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)
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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
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The pre-WWII American policy of avoiding military alliances and foreign entanglements; it was challenged by Japanese expansion and German aggression.- Battle of Midway
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A June 1942 naval battle where American forces sank four Japanese aircraft carriers; it marked the turning point in the Pacific War.
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