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The Triple Entente is Formed
-It consisted of France, Britian and Russia.
-They opposed the Central Powers -
The Triple Alliance is Formed
-It consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Austria-Hungary Takes Control of Bosnia
-This angered Serbians who felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war.
-Russia ,allied to Serbia mobilized it's forces. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated in Sarajevo
-Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip stepped from the crowd and shot the Archduke and his wife Sophie.
-Princip was a member of the Black Hand, an organization promoting Serbian nationalism.
-The assassinations touched off a diplomatic crisis. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
-Declared war because of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
-Convinced that the Serbian government had conspired against them, Austria-Hungary issued Serbia an unacceptable ultimatum. -
Germany Invaded Belgium
-Used the Schlieffen Plan. This plan called for a holding action against Russia, combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris.
-After France had fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia. -
A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania
-Of the 1,198 persons lost, 128 were Americans.
-The Germans defended their action on the grounds that the liner carried ammunition. Despite Germany’s explanation, Americans became outraged with Germany because of the loss of life.
-American public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers. -
The First Battle of the Somme Begins
- The British suf-fered 60,000 casualties the first day alone. -Final casualties totaled about 1. 2 mil-lion, yet only about seven miles of ground changed hands.
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The Zimmerman Note is Discovered
-A telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that wasintercepted by British agents.
-The message proposed a German-Mexican alliance and promising to help Mexico regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if the United States entered World War I. -
The United States Declares War on Germany
-Declared because of the Zimmerman Note.
-Mexico was going to ally itself with Germany.