World War 1 digital timeline project

  • The Sussex incident

    The Sussex incident

    a promise from Germany to the U.S. in May 1916 to limit its submarine warfare during World War I
  • The Battle of the Verdun

    The Battle of the Verdun

    its devastating human cost, its role as a turning point and symbol of endurance, and its lasting impact on military tactics
  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The outbreak of WW1

    The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The outbreak of WW1

    The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the immediate "spark" that ignited World War I because it triggered a series of events, including Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia. Existing tensions, nationalism, and a complex web of military alliances between European powers quickly escalated this regional conflict into a world war.
  • America Neutrality in World War 1

    America Neutrality in World War 1

    The importance of U.S. neutrality in World War I was that it allowed the country to avoid the war initially, maintain profitable trade with both sides, and focus on domestic issues. This policy was influenced by a tradition of isolationism and President Wilson's desire to keep America out of European conflicts. However, the policy faced growing challenges, such as German submarine warfare, which ultimately led to public pressure and the U.S. entering the war in 1917.
  • The Battle of the Marne

    The Battle of the Marne

    it stopped Germany's advance on Paris, ending their Schlieffen Plan for a quick victory and forcing the war onto the Western Front
  • The Sinking of the Lusitania

    The Sinking of the Lusitania

    it enraged the American public, leading to widespread anti-German sentiment and putting pressure on the U.S. to enter World War I. The attack was a turning point in the war, highlighting the dangers of modern warfare to civilians and contributing to the eventual U.S. decision to join the Allied cause after Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.
  • The Battle of Somme

    The Battle of Somme

    symbolic representation of trench warfare's horror and unprecedented human cost, as well as its role in developing British military experience that contributed to later victory
  • The Zimmerman Telegram

    The Zimmerman Telegram

    it galvanized U.S. public opinion against Germany, leading the United States to declare war in April 1917
  • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany

    Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany

    it was a key factor in dragging the United States into World War I, dramatically shifting the balance of power toward the Allies
  • The United States Enters World War 1

    The United States Enters World War 1

    it tipped the scales for an Allied victory by providing fresh troops, resources, and financial aid, fundamentally altering the course of the war
  • The Selective Service Act

    The Selective Service Act

    it enabled the U.S. to mobilize for a national army through mandatory conscription
  • The Espionage Act

    The Espionage Act

    protecting national defense information, but also for its controversial history of suppressing dissent and its ongoing tension with freedom of speech
  • American Expeditionary Force in france

    American Expeditionary Force in france

    provided fresh troops and resources that boosted Allied morale and shifted the momentum of World War I
  • The Fourteen Points by President Wilson

    The Fourteen Points by President Wilson

    to serve as a blueprint for a lasting peace after World War I and to prevent future conflicts by establishing a new world order
  • Spanish Flu Epidemic

    Spanish Flu Epidemic

    It killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people worldwide, highlighting the devastating consequences of infectious diseases and demonstrating the critical need for public health systems, quarantines, and social distancing measures
  • Russia Pulls Out of World War 1

    Russia Pulls Out of World War 1

    Russia's exit from World War I was crucial because it allowed Germany to temporarily shift troops to the Western Front, which led to a major offensive in 1918
  • The sedition Act

    The sedition Act

    it represented a direct challenge to freedom of speech and the press in the United States, as it criminalized "false, scandalous, or malicious writing" against the government, which was used to suppress political opposition during a time of partisan tension
  • The Battle of Argonne Forest

    The Battle of Argonne Forest

    it was the final major Allied offensive of World War I, leading directly to the German surrender and the end of the war
  • Armistice Day Ends World War 1

    Armistice Day Ends World War 1

    halted hostilities on the Western Front of World War I
  • The Paris Peace Conference & Treaty of Versailles

    The Paris Peace Conference & Treaty of Versailles

    their formal end to World War I, the creation of the League of Nations, and the redrawing of European borders