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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Event that sparked the beginning of World War I. A Serbian nationalist believed that killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand would bring Serbia independence and seize back the Salvic people and combine into a great Salvic nation. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
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German Empire mobilizes troops
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Canada joins war
When Britain went to war, all colonies of the British Empire, like Canada and Newfoundland, were automatically at war as well -
War Measures Act
Canada passed the War Measures Act to provide the government with new powers to prosecute the war, including censorship, the right to detain and arrest Canadians, and the right to take control over property. -
Battle of Second Ypres
Chlorine gas was used, about a third (6,000 soldiers) were killed, wounded, or captured, but the Canadians kept the Germans from breaking through. -
Poem "In Flanders Fields" is written by John McCrae
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USA declares war on Germany
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Period: to
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Canadians successfully attacked Vimy Ridge. The victory has become a post-war symbol for Canadian independence. -
Wartime Elections Act
Government changes election rules therefore some women were able to vote for the first time. However, some other Canadians lost their right to vote in sweeping changes to enfranchisement. -
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Battle of Passchendaele
Horrible weather conditions, resulting in trench feet. 16,000 Canadian soliders were either killed or wounded. -
Hundred Days Offensive begins
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End of WWI
War ended at 11 a.m. More than nine million service personnel and an estimated 20 million civilians were killed in the war.