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Archduke Assasination
Franz Ferdinand, the archduke of Austria-Hungary, is assasinated by Gavrilo Princip on a visit to the Bosnian city of Sarajevo. This was brought on by tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary due to Serbian expansion. -
The War Begins
Austria-Hungary decares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914 in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Previously established alliances brought many other European nations into this now major conflict. Alliances were put into place as the war began. The Central Powers included Germany and Austria-Hungary while the Allied Powers was made up of Great Britain, France, Russia, and Serbia. -
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World War I
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Lusitania Sinks
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Italy Enters the War
Italy oficially declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 23, 1915. Italy entered WWI on the side of the Allied Powers despite the fact that it was previously alligned with Germay and Austria-Hungary as a part of the Triple Alliance. Italy was persuaded by the London Pact which would grant them Austrian land at the end of the war. -
The Battle of Verdun Begins
The Battle of Verdun was fought between the French and the Germans from February 21, 1916-December 18, 1916. This was a major battle of the war and was also the longest single battle of WWI. The battle was meant solely to kill or injur as many French soldiers as possible, to "bleed France white." At the end of the battle in December, both France and Germany had suffered nearly 400,000 casualties each and the war remained at a stalemate. -
Woodrow Wilson Re-elected as US President
Woodrow Wilson was elected as the 28th President of the United States in 1912. As President, Wilson took a neutral stand on The Great War. In 1916, he was re-elected as President of the United States by promising to keep the United States out of the war. He believed that the US should stay out of the the affairs of other nations. His campaign slogan was "He kept us out of the war." -
Zimmermann Note/Telegram Intercepted
On January 19, 1917, the British intercepted a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arutur Zimmermann to Mexican officials. In the encrypted telegram Germany proposed that Mexico attack the United States and would in return gain Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The discovery of this message changed the American public's view on neutrality; they began to call for war against Germany. -
The Russian Revolution Begins
Russian citizens wanted to change life in Russia due to bad living conditions and lack of power. In March of 1917, Russians protested and rioted in the capital city of Petrograd. Known as the February Revolution, this was the start of the Russian Revolution. -
Czar Nicholas II Steps Down
As a result of the Russian Revolution that began only 7 days earlier, Nicholas II steps down as Czar of Russia. This brings the Russian monarchy to an end. A provisional or temporary government was established and led by Aleksandr Kerensky. -
United States Enters the War
The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917 and entered the war on the side of the Allied Powers. The US had taken a neutral stance on the war until the Germans sank the Lusitania killing thousands and the 128 Americans on board the ship. Germany's involvement with the Zimmerman Note was the final straw for the Untied States. -
US Troops Land in Europe
Although the US entered the war in April 1917, it was not until July when United States troops landed in Europe to begin the fight. The first wave of American Expeditionary Forces landed in France on July 3, 1917. -
Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
Led by Vladimir Lenin on November 7th, the Bolshevik Red Guard attacked the temporary government of Russia. The revolution lasted 2 days and ended with the Bolsheviks taking control of the government. Lenin was named the nation's leader. This is known as the October Revolution. -
Russia Out of the War
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End of the War
German leaders realized they were nearing defeat and sought an armisist, or truce. Peace terms were agreed on and the treaty was signed on November 11, 1918. This was the end of World War I. Today we recognize November 11 as a holiday, Veterans Day. -
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty was signed in Versailles, France on June 28, 1919. It created new nations in Europe, declared that Germany was to blame for the war and had to pay reparations, reduced the size of nation's militaries, created demilitarized zones, and established the League of Nations.
