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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 is important because it was the immediate catalyst for World War I, triggering a chain reaction of alliances and conflicts that plunged Europe into war. -
American neutrality in World War I was important because it allowed the U.S. to benefit economically by trading with both sides, maintain diplomatic relations with all belligerents, and avoid the immediate human cost of war. -
The First Battle of the Marne was important because it halted the German advance into France, saved Paris, and ended Germany's hope for a quick victory. -
The sinking of the Lusitania was important because the loss of 128 American lives fueled anti-German sentiment and contributed to the U.S. entry into World War I. -
The Battle of Verdun was important because it was a prolonged and brutal battle of attrition that became a symbol of French national pride and sacrifice, while its immense casualties weakened the German army. -
The Sussex Incident is important because it prompted Germany to issue the Sussex Pledge, which temporarily halted unrestricted submarine warfare and postponed U.S. entry into World War I -
The Battle of the Somme is important because it symbolized the brutal, high-casualty nature of trench warfare and demonstrated the futility of attempting a breakthrough in WWI. -
The Zimmerman Telegram is important because it was a coded message from Germany proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the United States, which significantly shifted American public opinion toward entering World War I. -
Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare is important because it directly led to the United States entering World War I, a turning point that helped the Allied powers win. -
The United States' entry into World War I was crucial because it provided fresh manpower and vast economic and industrial resources that helped tip the balance in favor of the Allies. -
The Selective Service Act is important because it establishes a framework for a mandatory military draft during national emergencies, ensuring the U.S. can quickly mobilize a large fighting force when volunteer enlistment is insufficient. -
The Espionage Act of 1917 is important because it is a powerful and broad federal law used to prosecute individuals who leak or disclose classified information related to national defense. -
The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was important because it provided fresh troops that helped the Allied powers win World War I, boosted morale, and established the U.S. as a major global military and diplomatic power. -
President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points were important because they were the first major statement of Allied war aims, serving as a blueprint for world peace that addressed the core issues that led to World War I -
The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic is important because it was the deadliest in modern history, infecting one-third of the world's population and killing 50 million to 100 million people. -
Russia's exit from World War I was important because it allowed Germany to focus its forces on the Western Front, significantly impacting the war's outcome and temporarily increasing the likelihood of a German victory. -
The Sedition Act is important because it created a critical national debate over the First Amendment and freedom of the press, setting a precedent for later laws that also restricted speech during wartime. -
The Battle of Argonne Forest (Meuse-Argonne Offensive) is important because it was the final major Allied offensive of World War I, significantly contributing to the end of the war and the German armistice. -
Armistice Day is important because it marks the end of the fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918, and serves as a day to commemorate the immense loss of life and honor those who served. -
The Treaty of Versailles is important because it formally ended World War I between Germany and the Allied powers, and its harsh terms for Germany, including territorial losses, demilitarization, and immense reparations, created deep resentment that contributed to the rise of Nazism and eventually led to World War II.