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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated sparking the beginning of the first World War. -
Austria-Hungry declares war on Serbia
After Gavrilo Princep kills the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austria Hungary declares war Serbia. -
Germans use gas as a weapon
The Germans started using gas weapons. Some of these were teargas, chlorine, and mustard gas. These gases were very effective. They were great at injuring or killing soldiers. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
British liner 126 americans on board German torpedo sinks it. -
Wilson reelected; pledged American neutrality
President Wilson still hoped to stay out of the war -
Zimmerman Note
Arthur Zimmermann, a German government employee, sends a telegram to the German Embassy in Mexico. In this telegram he encourages the Mexican government to invade southern border of the United States. His idea is to distract america from the European affairs. The British intercept the telegram and inform President Wilson. At first the American people feel this is just British propaganda. Those opinions change and Wilson asks congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
U.S. declares war
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked a special joint session of the United States Congress for a declaration of war against the German Empire. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government
Government of Vladimir Lenin. Under the leadership of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik Party seized power in the Russian Republic during a coup known as the October Revolution. -
War ends
After four years and three months of tough and treacherous fighting the war finally ends. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers
