World War I

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    events leading to & during world war I

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    Rivalries

    Germany had surpassed Britain in becoming Europe's leading industrial power which dramatically altered the balance of power in Europe (1871-1913)
  • Triple Alliance

    Triple Alliance

    In 1882, Germany had formed an alliance called the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary to protect themselves from France.
  • Russia and Mongolia

    In the early 1900s, Russia seized Chinese Manchuria and established a protectorate over Mongolia, which had independence from China
  • US Takes Charge

    The US announced that it would take charge in any Latin American nation that could not properly manage its affairs in 1904.
  • Emergence of Japan and the US

    In 1904, Russia and Japan went to war over Manchuria and Korea. Shockingly, Japan defeats Russia
  • Triple Entente

    Triple Entente

    In 1907, France, Britain, and Russia had formed an alliance called the triple entente
  • Britain declares war

    On August 4, Britain declares war on Germany
  • Serbian Assassination

    Serbian Assassination

    After Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in June 1914, an act of Serbian nationalism led to the murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne
  • War comes to a close

    Russia's withdrawal from the war at the end of 1917 allowed Germany to move troops from the Eastern to the Western Front, With more than 500,000 more soldiers now on the Western Front, German commanders hoped to defeat the British and French forces there and end the war before a large number of US troops could arrive
  • Germany Blockade

    In February of 1915, Germany established a blockade against Britain
  • Lusitania

    Lusitania

    A British passenger ship called Lusitania, which carried 173 tons of ammunition, sank due to a U-boat.
  • Tightening the Blockade

    German leaders had become concerned about the duration German can handle during the war. They decided to tighten their blockade. They did this in hopes that this would force Britain to surrender before the US could enter the war.
  • US declares war

    In April 1917, the US declared war on Germany due to Germany's resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships
  • Eastern Front

    Eastern Front

    Huge numbers of lives and resources lost caused Russia's government to collapse
  • Alliance with Mexico

    In February 1917, Germany resumed its previous policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. Furthermore, Germany made an offer of an alliance with Mexico
  • Fourteen points

    Fourteen points

    The Fourteen Points also strengthened the peace movements in Germany and Austria-Hungary, an effect Wilson had hoped for. The Fourteen Points contributed to Germany's decision to surrender ins 1918
  • Germany Surrenders

    Germany Surrenders

    Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918, which means that the war had finally come to an end. This also meant that the central powers were defeated. A treaty was signed by all nations
  • France stops Germany

    In June, some of the French forces stop the German advance at Chateau-Thierry