-
Hungaro-Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are shot by Gavrilo Princip while visiting Serbia. The war that would follow would change warfare forever.
-
Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the death of the archduke and, with support from Germany, gives Serbia a list of demands, which Serbia refuses. Austria-Hungary then declares war on Serbia.
-
Germany Declares war on Russia on August 1st and on France on August 3rd. Germany then invades Belgium, angering Britain.
-
After Germany invades Belgium, Britain, holding up a promise to protect Belgium, declares war on Germany.
-
After being held up by Belgians for three weeks, German troops march into France, only to be stopped by British and French troops. The battle made it clear that the war would not be won easily.
-
In April, 1915, German troops use poison gas for the first time, which could seriously injure or kill anyone who breathed it.
-
The Allies fight with tanks for the first time in January of 1916, changing how battles were fought.
-
Germany lauches an attack in northeastern France in February, which turns out to be one of the longest and bloodiest battles, not ending until December and leaving a total of 714,231 dead, and many more wounded.
-
Despite promising to stay neutral throughout the war, President Woodrow Wilson said that the Central Powers were threatening their democracy, and started rallying the people. In April, 1917, he asked congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Congressed passed the declaration, and Wilson signed it on April 6.
-
After the Russian government gets overthrown for a second time during the war, new Russian leader Vladimir Lenin signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending the fighting with Germany and pulling out of the war.
-
The American government passed the Sabotage Act in May of 1918 to punish any who damaged or destroyed war supplies, transport, or property and the Sedition Act in May of 1918 to make it illegal to speak against or criticize the government in any way. Many thought the Sedition Act went against the first amendment, but many others said that no measure was too drastic during wartime, and the law was upheld by the Supreme Court.
-
At 11 o'clock on Novemer 11, Germany with drew all it forces from west of the Rhine River, as according to President Wilson's armistice's terms. The Great War was finally over.
-
Leaders from the 27 nations gathered together in Paris, France, in January 1919 to discuss peace after the war. Many looked to American President Woodrow Wilson for a better world. But even with his help, there would still be many challenges that lay ahead.
