• Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated

    Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated

    While his driver was taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo,Bosnia Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot and killed by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip
  • America Declares Neutrality

    America Declares Neutrality

    Wilson calls for Americans to be "impartial in thought as well as in action" partly due to distance and Americans tie to both sides
  • The battle of the Marne

    The battle of the Marne

    A Pivotal battle where allied primarily British and french halted the German advance towards Paris by exploiting a gap in the German lines and launched a counter attack forcing a German retreat that ended German ambitions for a quick end to the war and initiated years of trench warfare
  • Sinking of the Lusitania

    Sinking of the Lusitania

    A German U Boat torpedoed the Lusitania on its way to Liverpool,departing from New York on the 1,959 passengers and crew 1,198 died 128 of them where Americans this caused widespread outrage within the United States Germany had justified this by noting that carrying war munitions for the Entente war effort and that it gave out a warning to travelers and issuing the waters as a war zone
  • Battle of the Verdun

    Battle of the Verdun

    The Germans launched an attack on a fortified french town of Verdun their strategy to bleed the french dry in a war of attrition it ultimately was a failure for the German effort and became a symbol of french resistance
  • The Sussex incident

    The Sussex incident

    A German submarine torpedoed a French passenger steamer Sussex crossing the English channel this attack killed 50 people injured hundreds more and wounded several Americans this led to the US threatening to break diplomatic relations with Germany
  • Battle of the Somme

    Battle of the Somme

    Major offensive by the British and French attacked German forces near the Somme river in France one of the deadliest battles of in history it started as a catastrophic first day for the British despite months of fighting the Entente only advanced a maximum of five miles
  • Zimmermann Telegram

    Zimmermann Telegram

    A German telegram sent to Mexico proposing a military alliance to invade the United States however it was sent through London and the British intercepted it this swayed public opinion against Germany
  • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany

    Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany

    Strategy where German U-Boats attacked and sank Entente and neutral ships without warning this violated the rules of international law and rules of engagement
  • United States entry to World War 1

    United States entry to World War 1

    United States enters World War 1 after president Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war after the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram and Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany
  • Selective Service Act

    Selective Service Act

    Authorizes a National draft during World War 1 to increase manpower
  • Espionage Act

    Espionage Act

    This prohibits giving out information of national defense that could harm the Nations security
  • American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrives in France

    American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrives in France

    The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) where the US armed forces sent to Europe during World War 1 Commanded by General John J.Pershing
  • Presidents Wilson gives his "Fourteen Points" speech

    Presidents Wilson gives his "Fourteen Points" speech

    President Wilsons "Fourteen Points" speech was a proposal for ending the First World War and preventing future conflicts like establishing the League Of Nations
  • Spanish Flu Epidemic

    Spanish Flu Epidemic

    The Spanish Flu was a devastating global pandemic from 1918 to 1920 infecting around 500 million about one third of the world population and killed between 50 and 100 million people and led to a drop in life expectancy in the US by 12 years
  • Russian Withdrawal of the First World War

    Russian Withdrawal of the First World War

    Due to Political instability,heavy military defeats economic collapse and the Bolshevik revolution Russia signs the treaty of Brest Litovsk with Germany this allowed hundreds of thousands of soilders to be transfered to the western front to fight against France and Britain which led to a major German offensive in the spring of 1918
  • Sedition Act

    Sedition Act

    Made it illegal to use "disloyal,profane,scurrlious or abusive language" against the government this primarily targeted Democrat-Republican criticism of the Federalist controlled Congress
  • Battle of the Argonne forest

    Battle of the Argonne forest

    Brutal and costly offensive led by the Entente particularly the American Expeditionary Forces against the German army in France ultimately helped the Entente break German lines and lead to an end of the war
  • End of World War 1 by Armistice

    End of World War 1 by Armistice

    German representative and Entente leaders sign the agreement which stipulated a cessation of hostilities and ordered withdrawal of German troops from occupied territory
  • Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles

    Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles

    officially ending the First World War by imposing harsh terms on Germany like accepting full blame of the war,massive reparations, ceding territory and limiting it's military to 100,000 men also established the League of Nations