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Women's Peace Party forms
Groups such as the Women's Peace Party or the American League to Limit Armament were formed in the 1915s to protest war. The Women's Peace Party met in a ballroom and was formed. -
Tensions Rise
Germany announces submarine campaign. Wilson protests it but tensions begin to rise. -
U-Boats Sink Lusitania
U-Boats sank the Lusitania, Wilson demands that the Germans protect passenger vessels and pay for American losses. -
Warfare Declared
Germany declares unrestricted submarine warfare against all armed ships.Secretary of State Lansing protested and told Germany it had to be accountable for American losses. It was the cause of the Americans to enter the war. -
U-Boats torpedo Sussex
U-boat mistakes the French Steamer, the Sussex, for a minelayer and torpedos it. The ship was unarmed and the torpedo injured many Americans. Lansing argued that the sinking violated the Arabic Pledge -
Threats to Cut Relations
Wilson sends an ultimatum to Germany stating that unless the Germans called off attacks on cargo and passenger ships, the United States would cut relations. -
Sussex Pledge passed
Sussex Pledge passed. The Kaser of Germany agrees to Wilson's demands and promises to shoot and sight only ships of the enemy's navy. Wilson accepts pledge. -
Presidential Election
Woodrow Wilson was renominated and election President in the election of 1916. He was the Democrat candidate and won with ease. -
Wilson sends messages to Allies
Wilson sends messages to the Allies (Great Britain and Germany), stating that if they state their war aims, the whole force of the United States would end the war. The Allies refused. -
Call for Peace
Wilson calls for peace without victory in a speech before the Senate. He urged respect, freedom of the seas, and a League of Nations to keep the peace. His Fourteen Points didn't fit the wants of the Senate but they accepted the League of Nations. -
Ties Broken
German Ambassador informs Secretary of State Lansing that U-boats would sink on sight all ships, passenger, merchant, neutral, belligerent, armed or unarmed in the waters around England and France. Wilson breaks off ties. -
Telegram Received
Wilson receives a telegram from the British Government, proposed an alliance with Mexico in the case of war with the United States. After the report, Wilson asks Congress for authority to arm merchant ships to deter U-boat attacks. -
Order of Merchant Ships
Wilson orders merchant ships armed on his own authority. Three days later he announced the arming. -
Vessels Fire
All vessels fire on submarines. U-boats sink five American ships. -
War declared
President Wilson becomes fed up and declares war. He called Congress into a meeting at 8:30pm. He gave a speech that led Congressmen to break into applause. -
Sedition Act Passed
Sedition act passed and imposed harsh penalties on anyone using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the government of the United States. -
Selective Service Act Passed
Congress passes the Selective Service Act which provided for the registration of all men between the ages of 21 and 30. -
Fourteen Points
Wilson appears before Congress and outlined the terms for his Fourteen Points plan. They failed to satisfy wartime emotions that sought vindication. The only three things fulfilled were the establishment of a an independent Poland, Evacuation and restoration of Belgium, and Evacuation and restoration of all French lands -
War Ends
A ceasefire with Germany occurs. World War I ends on the 11th hour of November 11. The date becomes known as Armistice Day. Today, it's known as Veteran's Day. -
Treay of Versailles signed
It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Power and was signed exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The treaty required Germany to accept sole responsibility for causing the war and to pay back certain countries.
