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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Seven terrorists from Serbia plotted to assassinate the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand. The Archduke was able to get through six of the terriorists untouched until he was cornered in an alley and was killed by a shot in the neck. The US wanted to stay neutral in thought as well as in deed, yet ended up trading with its allies, Britian, France, and Russia. -
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WWI
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Sinking of the Lusitania
British passenger ship, Lusitania, was sunken by a German U-Boat. The Lusitania had about 159 Americans aboard. After this attack on the Lusitania and the deaths of the Americans on board, the U.S. brought into the WWI. Germany pledged to stop unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Arabic Pledge
A British passenger liner, the Arabic, was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Approximately 40 passengers and crewman were lost, including two Americans. Wilson protested the attack. With the threat that the United States might join the war, the German government issued the "Arabic Pledge" on September 18, 1915. This pledge stated that German U-boats would warn non-military ships 30 minutes before they sank them to make sure the passengers and crew got out safely. -
Pancho Villa Raids on New Mexico
Pancho Villa, both loved and hated, went to New Mexico and killed 28 Americans. Villa did these raids to make President Carranza of Mexico look like a weak fool. General John Pershing was sent to capture Villa by President Wilson, but when WWI broke out, Pershing was recalled. Pancho Villa was never captured. -
Sussex Pledge
In March 1916, a torpedo from a German U-boat hit the French passenger liner, the Sussex. President Wilson demanded that the Germans refrain from attacking passenger ships and unrestricted submarine warfare. In this "Sussex Pledge," Germany stated they would temporarily stop these U-boat attacks but might have to continue in the future if the British continued to block off German ports. -
"He Kept Us Out Of War"
Woodrow Wilson's presidential slogan. This slogan reflected his place on the matter of anti-war and pro-neutrality. -
Resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
On January 9, 1916, in response to a demand by U.S. President Wilson Germany agreed to limit its unrestricted submarine warfare in order to avoid a diplomatic break with the United States. -
Zimmermann Note
"Secret" note written by German, Arthur Zimmerman, that proposed a German-Mexican alliance. Zimmermann stated Mexico would recover Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico if the U.S. lost the war. Great Britain intercepted the "secret" note, and passed it along to the United States where the note was then published. The discovery of the Zimmermann Note gave Wilson and Congress a solid reason for declaring war against Germany and the Central powers. -
Russian Revolution
This revolution caused Russia to back out of WWI. The revolution was caused by many political and social uprisings ready to completely decimate autocracy in Russia.
