Timeline: World War 1

Jan 1, 1839

Britain had a treaty with Belgium to keep them neutral

Period: Jan 1, 1878 to Dec 31, 1878

Austria-Hungary mobilized in response to Russia

Russia's expanded after the Russo-Turkish war of 1878. The fight was only stopped by the Berlin Congress.

May 20, 1882

Triple Alliance

Wikipedia
Between: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

Period: Jan 1, 1888 to Dec 31, 1888

Germany increased imperial ambitions

Kaiser Wilhelm II was in power

Period: Jun 15, 1890 to Dec 31, 1914

Steady increase of defensive spending by all major powers

Period: Jan 1, 1891 to Dec 31, 1893

Franco-Russian Alliance

Wikipedia
In response to the Triple Alliance

Period: Jan 1, 1896 to Dec 31, 1896

"nothing must henceforth be settled in the world without the intervention of Germany and the German Emperor"

Quote by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Signified Germany's future ambitions.

Period: Jan 1, 1898 to Dec 31, 1912

Anglo-Germany Naval Arms Race

Wikipedia
Germany: Navy Bill of 1900 – Wikipedia
- Increased Germany's size and strength (Britain saw as a challenge to their dominance)
New class of battleship by Britain: HMS Dreadnought – Wikipedia
- Germany released their own version in 1908

Jan 1, 1900

British Empire covered 20% of the world's territories

Apr 8, 1904

Anglo-French Entente (1904)

Apr 8, 1904

Entente Cordiale

Wikipedia
Between: Britain and France
Purpose: Imperial agreements that solved issues. Resulted in recognition of each other's spheres of influence.

Period: Mar 1, 1905 to Apr 30, 1911

Moroccan Crises (1905-6, 1911)

First Moroccan Crisis – Wikipedia
France went to take more control of Morocco; Germany objected. France ignored.
Second Moroccan Crisis – Wikipedia
France sent troops to Morocco. Germany claimed to send troops to southern Morocco. Result: Germany had to accept part of French Congo (humiliation).

Aug 31, 1907

Triple Entente

Wikipedia
Between: France, Britain, and Russia

Aug 31, 1907

Anglo-Russian Convention

Wikipedia
Between: Britain and Russia
Purpose: Solidified boundaries that identified respective control in Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. It indicated spheres of influence in Persia, specified that neither country would interfere in Tibet’s internal affairs, and recognized Britain’s influence over Afghanistan.

Period: Jan 1, 1912 to Dec 31, 1914

Plan XVII

Wikipedia
Made by: General Joseph Joffre
Plan: Offensive (attack Germany through Lorraine)

Oct 8, 1912

Bosnia-Herzegovina Annexation

Start of the Balkan Wars. Austria-Hungary annexed it.

Period: Oct 8, 1912 to Jul 18, 1913

Balkan Wars

Wikipedia Conflict between Austria-Hungary, Russia, Serbia, and the Ottomans.

Jan 1, 1914

All major powers has mass armies

Jan 1, 1914

Britain had a relatively small standing army

Jun 28, 1914

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Wikipedia
Who: Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the Austrio-Hungarian throne
In: Sarajevo (capital of the the province of Bosnia-Herzegovina)
By: Gavrilo Princip (Bosnian Serb nationalist, member of the Black Hand (anti-Austrian terrorist organization, sponsored and trained by Serbian government))

Jul 6, 1914