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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, next in line to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire, instigated the beginning of World War I. Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Serbian nationalist group. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
After Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the Austro-Hungarian empire and the Germans gave Serbia a list of demands, which Serbia refused. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
The Germans were the first people to use gas as a weapon. They used chlorine, mustard gas, and some others. Eventually, the Allies adopted this form of warfare. They used gas masks to protect themselves. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The British ship Lusitania was sunk by a U-Boat near Ireland. More than 1,000 people died as a result. This event was a popular propaganda topic during the war. Later, it was learned that the Lusitania contained war supplies. -
Wilson Reelected; Pledged American Neutrality
Once President Wilson was reelected, he pledged American Neutrality. The Democrats used the slogan "He Kept Us Out Of War." Sadly, American Neutrality was lost, and the U.S. entered the war. -
Zimmermann Note
The German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sent a "secret" telegram to Mexico. The telegram asked for a German Alliance with Mexico to regain Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the case that the U.S. would enter the war. The British intercepted the telegram, and they told the President Wilson. Once the public heard about this, most people thought it was a fake, and that it was British propaganda for the U.S. to enter the war. Arthur Zimmermann confirmed the note a bit later. -
U.S. Declares War
As a result of the Zimmermann note, unlimited submarine warfare, and the sinking of the Lusitania, the United States declared war on Germany. They joined the Allies. This partly caused the Great Migration, the moving of African Americans to the north to get jobs as a result of labor shortages. They were fighting for "democracy and freedom." -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government
The Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin overthrow the Russian government in November. This eventually creates the Soviet Union. Also, this caused Russia to withdraw from the war according to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. -
World War I Ends
When the Ottoman Empire was near collapse and Austria-Hungary broke apart into smaller nations, Germany sought an armistice. They asked Wilson, and he agreed to it under certain conditions. Germany had to maintain the peace, and German troops had to leave Belgium and France. This day is now called Veterans Day. -
Treaty of Versailles
Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to accept full responsibility for the conflict, had to pay the Allies billions of dollars, and disarm completely. It also carved the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires into new nations. Wilson managed to get the League of Nations, which was supposed to preserve peace, in the treaty. Months after Wilson's stroke, the U.S. Senate rejected the treaty and the League of Nations.
