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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian Nationalist and Black Hand member. He was assassinated because tensions were high between Austria-Hungary and Serbia as Austria-Hungary was encroaching on Serbia's land. Source -
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Sinking of the Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania consisted of a German U-boat sinking a British luxury steam ship that also carried American citizens. At this point in the war, naval warfare had begun. The Germans justified the sinking by stating that they identified it as an enemy ship that carried munitions. This created tension between the U.S.A and Germany. While it did not directly make them enter the war, it was a start to making them realize that permanent neutrality was nearly impossible. -
National Defense Act
The National Defense Act was signed by Woodrow Wilson which updated the Militia Act of 1903. Provided a reconstruction of the U.S. army by expanding the size and scope of the National Guard. It established the Reserve Officer Training Corps which trained and prepared college and high school students for armed services. The fear or war loomed over America and made them realize that they needed to strengthen their military. -
National Defense Act
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Germany renews unrestricted submarine warfare sources
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Germany renews unrestricted submarine warfare
Since 1915, Germany restricted submarine warfare to appease the US after they were angered due to the sinking of the Lusitania. It remained restricted until this day in 1917. This is because the US was supplying the Triple Entente more than the Triple Alliance and it seemed the US was going to enter war. The whole purpose of restricting submarine warfare was to keep the U.S. out of the war. Now that they have entered, there is no reason for them to give up a significant advantage that they have. -
US breaks diplomatic relations with Germany
Upon seeing that Germany announced to reinstate its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, Woodrow Wilson announced that they would break their diplomatic relations with Germany. After making this order, Wilson said he did not want any hostile conflict with Germany but would do whatever it takes to protect their men at sea. Source -
U.S.S Housatonic
The Housatonic was met by a German U-boat that surfaced and prepared to sink it. The commander of the ship went to the German U-boat and pleaded his case to not sink the Housatonic. The German commander replied by saying, “You are carrying foodstuffs to an enemy of my country, and though I am sorry, it is my duty to sink you.” Source -
US declares war
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First Liberty Loan
Liberty loans were bought by civilians, and the money they used went to the Allied Powers. At this time, many propaganda posters were beginning to be made to help sell liberty bonds. This also made it so that even people that didn’t fight in the war could still help out. Liberty bonds also offered a interest, specifically 3.5% for the first one, to motivate people to buy them.
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Selective Service Act
Gave the US president the power to draft soldiers. This act instituted a compulsory military service. This act was signed by president Woodrow Wilson which managed the induction of about 2.8 million men into the army. It originally targeted men from 21 to 30 years old but eventually changed from anyone between 18 and 45.
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War Industries Board
This was a government agency created to coordinate the production of war materials and the purchase of war supplies. They encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to maximize efficiency of production. They had a lot of control over the economy during its time. Source -
Lever Food and Fuel Control Act
Allowed the president to regulate the price, production, transportation, and allocation of feeds, food, fuel, beverages, and alcohol. Also allowed the president to claim land in America and make it national property. Source -
Second Liberty Loan
The government continued to create liberty bonds to fund the war effort. To improve the income, they increased the amount of money the government could issue for the bonds. Propaganda was still a consistent factor that the government used to sell the bonds across America.
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War Revenue Act
This act increased the income taxes drastically in order to help pay for the war. This occured six months after the U.S. entered the war and it was now time for them to gain more money. They needed funding for the production of essentials in the war. The tax gave them the money they needed to succeed.
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Railroads are Nationalized Sources
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Railroads are Nationalized
When an industry is nationalized, the government takes over a private organization and makes it public. At this point in the war, Wilson thought that the railroads weren’t up to supporting the war effort and decided it was time to take control over the industry and nationalize it. Hundreds of thousands of railroad cars were created to help transport all of the goods needed for war to wherever they were needed. -
Maximum Prices for Steel
During the war steel was being used for everything military. It was needed to build weaponry, transportation, machines in factories and more. In 1918, the price of steel was $2.89 per one hundred pounds.
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Germans Began Massive Offensive on the Western Front
At this point Russia had recently pulled out of the war. Therefore Germany could focus entirely on the western front. A German commander wished to make a big attack on the Allies and force them to create peace before fresh troops from America would arrive. He needed to make that attack before the reinforcements came.
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Third Liberty Loan
The third liberty bond served the same purpose as the other ones. It was used to collect money from people to support the war cause. At this time it cost on average, $170. The money made continued to set America up for the war.
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First Independent Action by the American Expeditionary Force
Led by General John Joseph Pershing, the American Expeditionary Force increasingly took control over the American forces in combat. This started occurring after the American victory at Cantigny. Later on, even French forces were assigned to follow the AEF’s commands.
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Battle of Belleau Wood
The Battle of Belleau Wood consisted of American troops trying to push Germans out of Belleau Wood. After the first day there were 1,000 casualties. The battle took course over the next three weeks with neither side refusing to give up. In the end, the U.S. prevailed yet suffered with nearly 10,000 either killed, wounded, or missing.
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Second Battle of the Marne
General Erich Ludendorff of the German army, conceived a plan to draw the French away from Flanders front. However, a French general saw this coming and the Germans were met with counter attacks by the French army. Three days later the French emerged victorious. Doughboys were simply a nickname for the soldiers that fought in the war.
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900,000 Americans in the Battle of Meuse-Argonne
The Meuse-Argonne offensive consisted of the Allied powers trying to push the German army out of Northern France to regain a railway vital to supplying enemy troops. Over a million U.S. soldiers were involved. After 46 days and tens of thousands of casualties, the Allies were victorious.
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Fourth Liberty Loan
The Fourth Liberty bond was the final Liberty Bond of the war. After all the bonds, the U.S. raised about $17 billion for the war effort. This was made possible through the millions and millions of people purchasing bonds to support their country in the war.
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Armistice
The Armistice ended WWI with an Allied victory. Wilson then delivered The Fourteen point speech. This speech outlined a vision for a stable and long-lasting peace between the countries involved in the war. More specifically, he gave fourteen strategies to ensure national security would prosper. He also wanted to balance the powers of the world to further prevent a war in the future.
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