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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated by Serbian nationalist
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The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium.
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U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announces the U.S. will remain neutral. The US does not want to be involved with any foreign wars if they do not directly affect us.
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The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in.
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Germany declares a "war zone" around Great Britain, essentially effecting a submarine blockade where even neutral merchant vessels were to be potential targets.
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Tsar Nicholas II takes personal control over Russia's armies.
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British passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by a torpedo from a German submarine. 1195 passengers, including 128 Americans, lost their lives. Americans were outraged and put pressure on the government to enter the war.
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The Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917, giving the U.S. president the power to draft soldiers. Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which Wilson signed into law on May 18, 1917. The act required all men in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service.
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Russia signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, which is a peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers.
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Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
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The Treaty of Versailles officially ends WWI.
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Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory and ultimately rule Poland. World War II was now started and France and Britain retaliate because of this move.
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140-1941 Germany tries to attackBritain from the air but did not succed.
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Germany attacked and gains Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
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At Yalta, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin made important decisions regarding the future progress of the war and the postwar world.