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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On an offical visit to Sarajevo, a Serbian nationalist group assassinated Ferdinand and his wife Sophie while they rode through the city in an open car. -
Wilson Adopts a Policy of Neutrality
WIlson addressed Congress, urging Americans to remain "impartial in though, as well as action." -
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German U-boat Attacks
Germany began in February 1915 to challange the British blockade with submarine attacks. Over the next year, they sank many ships, including the British liner Lusitaina, and the French liner Sussex. After the sinkin of the Sussex, Germany made an agreement called the Sussex pledge, in which they promised to spare all lives in future attacks on merchant ships, but the US must force Britain to end its blockade. Wilson accepted the pledge, but not the condition. -
A U-boat Sank the British liner Lusitania
Of the 1,198 dead, 128 were Americans. Germany claimed that the boat was carrying weapons and ammunition. Theodore Roosevelt said Germany's actions were "murder on the high seas." -
Sinking of the Sussex
A French liner, sank by a German U-boat. After the incident, Germany promised to sink no more passenger ships without warning. This led to the Sussex pledge. -
Zimmerman Letter
The German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman sent a note to the German Ambassador to Mexico. This was intercepted by British Naval intelligence on March 1, 1917. It outlined Germany's intention to "begin submarine warfare unrestricted," and "keep neutral the United States of America." It also asked, in the event of the US not staying neutral, for Mexico "to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona." -
A "War to End All Wars"
Wilson declared his intention to end the stalemate in Europe. He also broke off diplomatic relation with Germany, keeping to his Sussex pledge. -
Wilson's War Message
Wilson spoke to Congress, reminding them of the German U-boat attacks, and how they prevented the US from trading freely with other countries. "Neuatrality is no longer feasible," he said, as he declared war on Germany. Wilson lamented later, that his message, "was a message of death for our young men."
American involvment also heldped us get the payment back from all the money we had donated to the Allies. -
Declaration of War
The Senate voted 82 to 6 to declare war. On April 6, the House voted 373 to 50 to go to war.
The US was going to war.