Causes of WWI By Camelissas Jun 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo. Jul 28, 1914 Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. May 7, 1915 U-boat sinks the Lusitania. 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans die. Sep 5, 1915 Tsar Nicholas takes command of the Russian armies Feb 21, 1916 The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, is fought to a draw with an estimated one million casualties. Nov 7, 1916 Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States with campaign slogan: "He kept us out of the war" Apr 6, 1917 President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war with Imperial Germany. Jul 3, 1917 The first wave of the American Expeditionary Force lands in France. Jan 1, 1918 Two waves of influenza kill more people than did the war. Nov 11, 1918 WWI ends