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Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The Black Hand (the ones who orchestrated the attack) planned this murder because of the fact that he was perceived as a threat to Serbian independence. -
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, which began World War I. They were mad at Serbia and wanted to squash its nationalism. -
A great loss to Russia which also made Russia's army realize how inexperienced Tzar Nicholas was (the Tzar of the time). Very high casualties. -
A series of deep holes dug for miles on end used to prevent attacks from machine guns and artillery. Had very poor living conditions because of the illnesses caused by it (trench foot) and the fact that people had to stay in cramped places for a long time. -
An unofficial ceasefire along the Western Front around Christmas 1914. -
Germany announced that there would be a war zone around Great Britain where they would use their U-boats (submarines) to sink ANY ship that enters it. -
The British passenger ship called the Lusitania was on route from New York, America to Liverpool, England when Germany torpedoed it with a submarine, killing 1,195 people including 123 Americans. -
An attack launched by the British to try to pull the Germans out of Verdun. ~19k died on the first day. -
Longest bloodiest battle of WW1, the Germans were using Total War (Willing to take any sacrifice to win) to be able to destroy French Morale. 400k French died, ~400k for the Germans. -
A secret German telegram sent by German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico proposing an alliance between the German Empire and Mexico if the United States entered World War I. With Germany's aid, Mexico would recover Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico -
The Tzar wasn't a good leader because of his inexperience and caused many deaths and lost many battles.Vladamir Lenin leads the Communist Bolsheriks overthrew the Tzar (Emperor). -
Based on the attack on the Lusitania causing American deaths, and the Zimmerman Telegram, Wilson asked Congress for "a war to end all wars" that would "make the world safe for democracy" which Congress signed. -
A peace treaty signed by Russia and the Central Powers, pulling Russia and its army which held the Eastern Front. It allowed the Central Powers to focus on the Western Front. -
The official end to fighting. -
A peace treaty signed by Germany, forcing Germany to pay what it owes from the war to the Allies, lose its colonies, lose its land, and to disarm its army.