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Archduke Assassinated
World War I: Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. -
Beginning of War
World War I: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Since Serbia has an alliance with Russia and Austria has an alliance with Germany, this causes a World War. -
Lusitania Sinks
World War I: A German U-Boat sinks the British passenger ship in British waters. Many passengers die, including 128 U.S. citizens. -
Zimmerman Note
World War I: The U.S. is warned about the Zimmerman Note. This is what brings them into the war. Germany promised Mexico Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if they sided with them. -
U.S. Enters War
World War I: The U.S. declares war on Germany. President Wilson signs the DOW. Many men begin to join the armed forces. -
Espionage Act
World War I: The Espionage Act allows the government to censor publications in the mail. It is now a crime to disrupt the draft. -
World War I Ends
World War I: Germany signs the armistice. The "Great War" is officially over. Germans are forced to weaken their military and pay reparations. -
Nazis Invade Poland
WW2 Europe: The war begins when the Nazis invade Poland. -
Nazis Invade France
WW2 Europe: The Nazis continue to move west into France. Also on this day, Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister. -
First Use of Gas Chambers
WW2 Europe: The Nazis experiment their infamous gas chambers for the first time at Auschwitz. -
Pearl Harbor Bombed
WW2 Pacific: The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor which begins conflict across the Pacific in World War II. Britain and U.S. declare war on Japan. -
Hitler Declares War on the U.S.
WW2 Europe: Hitler defends the Japanese by declaring war on the U.S. -
Battle of Midway
WW2 Pacific: This was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The Americans defeat the Japanese, the beginning of their victories. -
D-Day
WW2 Europe: Allied forces storm the beaches of Normandy to begin their large scale attack on the Axis Powers. -
Liberation of Paris
WW2 Europe: Paris, which has been under Nazi control for several years, is finally freed. -
Hitler Dies
WW2 Europe; Adolf Hitler commits suicide near the end of the Nazi reign in Europe. -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped
WW2 Pacific: The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. This was the first use of the atomic bomb which caused the Cold War. -
Second Bomb is Dropped
WW2 Pacific: The second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. -
Japan Surrenders
WW2 Pacific; After the second atomic bomb is dropped, Japan officially surrenders. This is the end of WWII. -
South Korea Invaded
Korea: In surprise attacks, North Korea invaded South Korea to spark the Korean War. -
North Korea takes Seoul
Korea: North Korea captures the South Korean capital. -
Inchon Landing
Korea: MacArthur sends Marines behind communist enemy lines. They successfully cut off supply lines. This allows them to attack. -
U.S. Reaches Pyongyang
Korea: U.S. troops take over the North Korean capital. -
China Enters War
Korea: Surprisingly, China enters the war and helps the North Koreans defend themselves from the American attacks. This eventually leads to the same territorial split that existed before the war began. -
Stalemate is Reached
Korea: Neither side can seem to fight past the 38th parallel. -
U.S. Begins Involvement
Leading to Vietnam: Kennedy begins U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War by sending 3000 soldiers and equipment. -
Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos
Leading to Vietnam: The Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos signed by the U.S. and 13 other nations. It prohibited U.S. invasion of portions of the Ho Chi Minh trail in eastern Laos. -
Ngo Dinh Diem Killed
Leading to Vietnam: The leader of South Vietnam was assassinated. This was a turning point in the war. -
Kennedy Assassination
Leading to Vietnam: President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. -
Lyndon B. Johnson Becomes President
Leading to Vietnam: Johnson is sworn in as president after Kennedy is assassinated. -
Battle of Ia Drang
Vietnam: The United States has their first major engagement with North Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
Vietnam: North Vietnam and Vietcong troop stormed many cities in the South. The U.S. and South Vietnam troops held off the attacks. -
Mai Lai Massacre
Vietnam: American troops killed hundreds of defenseless South Vietnamese. -
Vietnamization
Vietnam: Americans began to strengthen South Vietnam troops so the Americans could begin to leave periodically. -
Kent State Shootings
Vietnam: 4 people were killed when policemen shot into a crowd of protesters that were throwing objects at them. -
Jackson State Massacre
Vietnam: 2 people were killed while protesting of the Kent State Shootings and the U.S. policies in Cambodia. -
26th Amendment
Vietnam: The voting age is lowered to 18. -
North Vietnam Releases POW's
Vietnam: Operation Homecoming. Many Americans return home. -
Paris Peace Accords Signed
Vietnam: The United States, Vietcong, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam signed an agreement to end war and restore peace in Vietnam. -
Last American Soldiers Leave Vietnam
Vietnam: American involvement in the Vietnam war is finally over. -
Josip Tito Dies
Bosnia: The communist leader of Yugoslavia dies. He kept ties with the Soviets and the U.S. Once he dies, his country struggles -
Saddam Hussein Invades Kuwait
Persian Gulf: Hussein says that overproduction of oil was why the Iraq economy was suffering. They invade Kuwait and wanted Kuwait to pay the foreign debt. -
Operation Desert Shield
Persian Gulf: UN countries move troops to Saudi Arabia to prevent a possible attack from Iraq -
UN Gives Iraq an Ultamatim
Persian Gulf: The United Nations says that Hussein and the Iraq troops must leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991 or the U.S. will make them. -
UN Ultamatum Expires
Persian Gulf: The UN warned Saddam Hussein and Iraqi troops to leave Kuwait. Hussein did not listen. Now, the attacks will begin. -
Operation Desert Storm
Persian Gulf: Norman Schwarzkopf uses air tactics to weaken Iraqi forces after Saddam Hussein does not leave Kuwait when he is told to. -
Operation Desert Sabre
Persian Gulf: The ground attacks now begin after the weakening of Iraqi troops with air forces. Ground forces attack Kuwait and southern Iraq. -
Civil War
Bosnia: Slovenia and Croatia declare their independence. Slovenia begins to execute Croats -
UNOSOM Established
Somalia: This was an attempt to minimize confusion in Somalia. This was also created to get supplies where they were supposed to go. -
Clinton Creates Safe Havens
Bosnia: Six safe havens are created for Muslims. They were later attacked. -
Operation Provide Relief
Somalia: The US wanted to avoid using its military in these humanitarian efforts. -
Operation Restore Hope
Somalia: Humanitarian groups establish camps for refugees so they don't starve to death. -
U.S. Arrives in Mogadishu
Somalia: U.S. Navy Seals and Marines arrive in Mogadishu to help secure the area. -
Four Journalists Killed
Somalia: When U.S. attacks Aidad by helicopter, he retaliates by killing 4 western journalists for everyone to see. -
U.S. Soldiers in Mogadishu
Somalia: Dozens of U.S. troops are killed and wounded fighting in Mogadishu. -
Attack of Sarajevo
Bosnia: Milosevic and Slovenia attack Bosnia since there is a large population of Muslims there. They kill Muslims and continue with ethnic cleansing. This was an international call for help. -
NATO takes initiative
Bosnia: NATO agrees to being military attacks. There were massive NATO bombing forces. -
Milosevic Talks Peace
Bosnia: He agreed to meet at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. He agreed to democratic elections of Bosnian Serb Republic and Muslim-Croat Federation. War criminals had to be handed over.
