-
Allies
There were two major defeense alliances in Europe. the Triple Entente (Later known as the Allies), consisted of France, Britian, and Russia.
The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Central Powers were consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. -
Central Powers
The Central Powers were countries that were allied with each other. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman empire. -
1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, visited the Bosnian capital Sarajeov. As teh royal entourage drove through the city, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Pincip stepped from the crowd and shot the Black Hand, an organization promoting Serbian nationalism. The assassination touched off a diplomatic crisis. On july 28, Austria-Hungary declared what was expected to be a short war agaisnt Serbia.
The alliance system pulled one nation after another into the conflict. -
Schlieffen Plan
The German plan for invading Belgium, this plan called for a holding action against Russia, combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris; after France had fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia. As German troops swept across Belgium, thousands of civilians fled in terror. -
Sinking of British liner Lusitania
One of the worst disasters occured on May 7, 1915, when a U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland. Of the 1,198 persons lost, 128 of them were Americans. The Germans defended their action on the grounds that the liner carried ammunition. Despite Germany's explanation, Americans became outraged with Germany because of the loss of life. American public opinion turned against Germany and teh Central Powers. -
Sinking of British liner Arabic
In August 1915, a U-boat sank another British liner, the Arabic, Drowning two Americans. Again the United States protested, and this time Germany agreed not to sink any more passenger ships. -
Sinking of French passenger liner Sussex
A Germany, in March 1916, torpedoed an unarmed French Passenger steamer, the Sussex. By Germany doing this they broke their promise after sinking the British liner Arabic, promising not to any more passenger ships. The Sussex sank, and about 80 passengers, including Americans, were killed or inured. Once again the United Stateswarned that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed its tactics. -
Battle of the Somme
During the first Battle of the Somme (which began on July 1 1916, and lasted until mid-November), the British sufered 60,000 casualties the first day alone. Final casualties totaled about 1.2, yet only about seven miles of ground changed hands. This Trench Warfare, in which armies fought for mere yards of ground, continued for over three years. Elsewhere, the fighting was just as devastating and inconclusive. -
Selective Service Act of 1917
To meet the government't need for more fighting power, Congress passed the Selective Service Act in may 1917. The act required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service. By the end of 1918, 24 million men had registered under the act. Of this number, almost 3 million were called up. About 2 million troops reached Europe before the truce was signed, and three-fourths of them saw actual combat. -
Zimmermann note
The 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 Mexico and Germany and promised taht if war with the United States broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering "lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona."
