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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
This event triggered the start of World War 1. A group called the Black Hand was hired from Serbia to assassinate Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. The driver of the car carrying Franz Ferdinand took a wrong turn in Sarajevo. On this road, Gavrilo Princip (member of the Black Hand) killed Franz Ferdinand and his wife. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the leading figure of Austria-Hungary. He was killed by Serbian nationalists (The Black Hand). Austria-Hungary then decides to declare war on Serbia exactly one month after the assassination. -
Great Britain starts the Naval Blockade
The British blockade of Germany from 1915-1919 was one of the largest and most complex undertakings attempted by either side during the World War 1. While Britain employed considerable resources in other areas of the conflict, the blockade became the source of the United Kingdom's greatest efforts during the war. -
German Submarine Sinks the Lusitania
This event happened when the Lusitania tried crossing from New York to Liverpool, England, and it killed 128 Americans.The death of so many innocent civilians at the hands of the Germans galvanized American support for entering the war. -
Germany Begins Attacks on Verdun
The battle began with a massive artillery bombardment and a steady advance by troops of the German Fifth Army under Crown Prince Wilhelm. It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war; French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000. -
The United States Declare War on Germany
Several key events leading up to this act included the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and the Zimmerman Telegram sent to Mexico by Germany in January 1917. The US supplied the allies with large amounts of equipment and resources. -
President Woodrow Wilson Presents to Congress his Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points was a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I. The principles were outlined in a speech on war aims and peace terms to the United States Congress by President Woodrow Wilson. -
Russia Signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia signed a treaty with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria) ending its participation in World War I -
United States Victorious in the Battle of Cantigny
The primary purpose was to eliminate German machine gun positions. With this massive support, and advancing on schedule behind the creeping artillery barrage, the 28th Infantry took the village in 30 minutes. This was America's first major victory in World War 1. -
Germany Signs the Armistice at Compiègne
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ends. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, bereft of manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. -
Draft of the Covenant of the League of Nations is Completed
It bound members to uphold world peace and promote international cooperation. Members agreed not to resort to war but to settle disputes peacefully by referring them to the League's Council for arbitration or judicial settlement.