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Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand was shot and killed by an assassin while he was visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia with his wife. This was the beginning of world war 1 -
the assassin that killed Ferdinand was a Serbian nationalist, this fact directed Austria's anger toward Serbia. they declared war on Serbia one month after the assassination. America was indirectly allied with Serbia -
when Austria declared war, both their allies and Serbia's allies were dragged into the fight which included Britain and America on Serbia's side, and Germany on Austria's side -
A German U-Boat torpedoes the British passenger liner Lusitania. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. The ship was attacked because Germany learned that weapons were smuggled on the ship, but the U.S. didn't believe that. -
Germany had promised America not to attack another non-military ship. this promise was broken when their ally Austria sunk the Italian S.S. Ancona. -
The British intercepted a telegram from Alfred Zimmermann detailing plans for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the U.S. Britain passed the telegram to America and when it was made public, people like former president Roosevelt encouraged America's involvement in the war. -
the U.S. declares war on Germany, officially marking the beginning of their involvement -
the first American troops land in France -
Germany signs the Armistice which stops the fighting and ends war -
to officially end the war Germany had to sign the treaty of Versailles. the treaty went against president Wilson's 14 points, which the Germans had hoped for. however, signing the treaty meant Germany was forced to take full blame for the war