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Allies
There were 2 major defense alliances in Europe. The Triple Entente, later known as the Allies, consisted of France, Britain, and Russia. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary (with the Ottoman Empire) were later known as the Central Powers. Alliances provided international security. -
1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the Austrian thrown he went to the Bosnian captial Sartajevo. As the royal entourage drove through the city Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip stepped out of the crowd and shot Archduke and his wife Sophie. -
Schlieffen Plan
Germany invaded Belgium using a strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan.The plan called for a holding action against Russia , combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris. -
Sinking of British liner Lusitania
U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland.1,198 people lost, 128 were American. Germans defended their action on the grounds that the liner carried ammunition. Americans were still outraged and public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers. -
Sinking of British liner Arabic
3 months later another U-boat sinks British liner Arabic drowning 2 Americans. The United States protested and this time Germany agreed not to shink any more passenger ships. -
Sinking of French passenger liner Sussex
Germany brokwe its promise and torpedoed an unarmed French passenger steamer, the Sussex. It sunk and about 80 passengers were killed or injured. -
Battle of the Somme
Bloody trench warfare in which armies fought for mere yards of ground, continues for over 3 years. 60,000 casualties died the first day and about 1.2 million in total. -
Zimmermann note
A telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents. The telegram proposed an alliance between Mesxico and Germany and promised that if war with the US broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. -
Committee on Public Information
Also known as the CPI or the Creel Committee, was an independent agency of the government of the United States created to influence U.S. public opinion regarding American participation in World War I. -
Selective Service Act of 1917
The act required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service and by 1918, 24 million men had registered. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Under the Acts a person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or war effort. -
War Industries Board
(WIB) was a United States government agency that coordinated the purchase of war supplies. The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products. -
Convoy System
A heavy guard of British destroyers escorters merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups. By the fall shipping losses had been cut in half. -
National War Labor Board
(NWLB) was a United States federal agency created in two different incarnations led by President Woodrow Wilson. Workers who refused to obey board decisions could lose their draft exemptions. The board also worked to improve nfactory conditions. It pushed for an 8 hour workday, promoted safety inspections, and eforced the child labor ban. -
Food Administration
President Wilson set up the Food Administration under Herbert Hoover to help produce and conserve food. Retaurants removed sugar bowls from the table and served bread only after the first course.American food shipments to the Allies tripled. -
Second Battle of the Marne
The last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during the First World War which developed into a significant allied victory. -
Austria-Hungary surrenders to the Allies
That same day, German sailors mutinied against government authority. Mutiny spread quickly. -
Establishment of the German Republic
Socialist leaders in Berlin established a German republic. The kaiser gave up the throne. -
Cease-fire and armistice
Germany agreed to a cease-fire and signed the armistice, or truce, that ended the war.
