-
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914 Archduke was visting the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and he and his wife were shot and killed by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. -
Austria-Hungary Declare War
On July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia.
This war was expected to be very short. -
Germany Joins the War
Germany declares war on Russia as they are obligated by treaty to support Austria-Hungary. -
Germany Invades Belgium
On August 3, 1914 Germany invaded Belgium following a strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan -
Germany Declares War Again
Germany declared war on Russias ally France. The Great War had begun. -
Marne
Allies stop German advance on Paris. -
Period: to
Gallipoli
Allied forces defeated in bid to establish a trade route to Russia. -
Lusitania Sinks
On May 7, 1915 a U-boat sank a British liner named the Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland. 1,198 people were killed and 128 were Americans. -
Ypres
Germans use chemical wepons for the first time. -
The Arabic is Sunk
A German U-boat sank another British liner drowning 2 Americans. Germany promises not to shoot any more passenger ships. -
Period: to
Verdun
French hold line in longest battle of the war. -
The Sussex is Sunk
Germany broke their promise with the U.S. amd torpedoed an unarmed French passenger steamer. Once again U.S. threatens to break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed their ways. -
Period: to
The First Battle of the Somme
The First Battle of the Somme was on July 1, 1916 and lasted until November 18, 1916. -
Woodrow Wilson is reelected
Charles Evans Hughes thought he won but a reporter told one of his aides that when he woke up to tell him that he wasn't president. -
The US Joins the War
On January 31, 1917 the kaiser announced that U-boats would sink all ships in British waters -hostile or neutral- on sight. -
The Big Debate
The members of the U.S. House of Represenatives had debated for the past 15 hours they had been debating President Wilsons request for a declaration of war against Germany. Jeannette Rankin was the only member of the House to vote against the U.S. entering both World Wars. -
Zimmermann Notes
A telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents. This telegram was asking Mexico to go to war with U.S. so Germany wouldn't have to worry about U.S. -
The Doughboys
Armed with only a rifle and a revolver York and 6 other doughboys killed 25 Germans and captured 132 others. -
Austria-Hungary Surrendered
Austria-Hungary surrendered to the allies. -
Cease Fire
At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, in the 11th month of 1918, Germany agreed to a cease-fire and signed the armistice that ended the war