-
The Black Hand that includes nationalists who believed Bosnia belonged to Serbia attempted to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austria-Hungary throne) and his wife who was pregnant in Bosnia. After their first attempt to use a bomb failed, they later succeeded their second attempt by using a gun. Thus, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
As Austria-Hungary and Serbia finds their allies and formed the Triple Alliance (Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy) and Triple Entente (United Kingdom, France, Russia), some countries remained neutral and U.S. was one of them. This is because U.S. is made of a collaboration of immigrants. And going to war may divide America up into many parts that supports different sides. So President Wilson decided America of be neutral to keep the country and people united. -
A German U-Boat sank Lusitania, a British passenger liner (killed 1,201 people). America was furious since the dead victims also included 128 Americans and sent 4 diplomatic protests. Germany then pledged the Sussex Pledge to end the act of unrestricted submarine warfare. -
President Woodrow Wilson won the election by 3% popular vote compared to his opponent Charles Evans Hughes who supports getting involved with the war. He campaigned peace, to not send Americans into the battlefields, and isolation. -
Britain intercepted a secret message sent from a telegram by a German foreign secretary, Alfred Zimmermann to Mexico City's German Ambassador. The Zimmermann Note seeks alliance and promised to retrieve territory taken by America from the Spanish-American War. After the code was intercepted, solved, sent to America, the newspapers also spread the words. And Americans were angered, but President Wilson stood his ground and America was still neutral. -
Germany declared to resume the unrestricted submarine warfare and this time to target on American passenger and merchant ships. Now America officially declared war on Germany and Germany's acts pushed America towards the Allies side. -
American troops first landing in France. Later, the force broke the stalemate in the Western Front and pushed Germany back. -
This act made any talking and writing of any false, offensive, or intending to harm the government a crime. Thus also made citizens unable to criticize the government's decision interfering with the World War. -
Opposing sides agreed to sign the ceasefire at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Germany wished the propose peaceful 14 Points by President Wilson would later be used to end the war that costs millions of lives. Today, November 11th is known as Veterans Day, Armistice day, and Remembrance Day. -
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended WWI with Germany taking all the blame of war and taking away everything they had: money, army, land, etc. The Treaty was chosen over President Wilson's 14 Points. The Treaty was more harsh and focused on punishing Germany while The 14 Points attempts to establish lasting peace so that there wouldn't be another World War happening again. Yet one point was taken for the Treaty was a world organization, later known as the League of Nations.