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Franz Ferdinand assassination
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparking the beginning of the first World War -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia after Gavrilo Princep assassinated Franz Ferdinand -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
The Germans used what they called poison gas against Allied troops on April, 1915. This gas could easily injure or kill someone who breathed it. After the Germans used the gas, The allies started using it. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, the Germans used their U-boat to torpedo the British passenger liner called the Lusitania near the coast of Ireland more than 1,000 people died 128 were American citizens -
Wilson reelected; pledged American neutrality
Wilson was elected president by barely beating Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes. He says that we are still neutral and are not going to war. -
The Zimmerman Note
After the Germans released the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, the British intercepted a secret telegram sent by the German foreign minister. Arthur Zimmerman ,the one who wrote the telegram, offered Mexico a German alliance against the U.S. to push them into the war. -
U.S. declares war
On April 2, 1917 Wilson asked Congress for a Declaration of War against Germany. After some debate, Congress realized to stay a World Power they had to defend their rights. Congress passed the Selective Service Act on May 18to raise an army. 24 million were drafted 3 million served, also women served in the war along with African Americans. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian Government
There were riots all over Russia because of how the new Russian Government was handling the war and also the scarcity of food and fuel. Which caused the Bolsheviks to overthrow the Government. The Bolsheviks wanted to pull out of the war so they can make their own Communist state. -
War ends
The Germans realized their hope of winning was gone. America's weapons and war supplies had strengthened the Allied war effort. Germans were suffering thanks to the shortage of food and supplies. The German Government asked President Wilson for an armistice. Wilson said yes but only under that they had to accept the plan of peace. Germany accepted. the armistice started, Germany withdrew all land forces west of the Rhine river and surrendered huge amounts of supplies and the fighting stopped. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Allies and the Germans signed the treaty of Versailles. Under its cruel terms. Germany paid the Allies billions of dollars, had to accept full responsibility for the conflict, It had to disarm and give up overseas colonies, and give up some land in Europe. It also created new nations and restored old ones which lead to future conflict.
