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Austria-hungary which had taken control of bosnia in 1875 accused serbia of subverting its rule over bosnia
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By 1890, the strongest nation on the european continent was germany which had set up an army reserve system that drafted and trained young men
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Austria and hungary declared what was expected to be a short war against serbia.
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There were two major defences alliances in europe
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Germany declared war on russias ally france.
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in june 1914, archduke franz ferdinand heir to the austrian throne vistited the bosnia capital
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Germany invaded belgium, following a strategy known as the schlieffen plan.
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Unable to save belgium, the allies retreated to the marne river and france where they halted the german advance.
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Most americans saw no reason to join a struggle 3000 miles away
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Two parallel systems of deep, rat infested trenches crossed france from the belgium coast to swiss alps.
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One of the worst disasters occured when a u- boat sank the british liner off the southern coast of ireland.
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Three months later, a u boat sank another british liner the arabic drowning to americans.
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The united states was suffering a labor shortage.
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In March,Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed france passenger steamer, the sussex.
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during the first battle of the somewhat began on july 1 1916, and lasted until mid november, the british suffered 60000 cassualties the first day alone.
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In november came the us presedential election. The democrats renominated wilson, and the republicans nominsted the supreme court justice, charles evans hughes.
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In a speech before the senate, the president called for a peace without victory, a peace between equals, and which neither side would impose harsh terms on the other.
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The kaiser announced that u- boats would sink all ships in britsh waters, hostile or neutal, onsite.
