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Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austo-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian nationalist, ignites a chain of events that results in World War I. -
Declaring War on Serbia
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Russia fully mobilizes its armed forces.
As an ally of Serbia, Russia fully mobilizes its armed forces. -
Germany vs Russia
Germany warned Russia that to continue to full mobilization against Austria-Hungary would mean war with Germany. While insisting that Russia immediately halt mobilization, Germany began its own mobilization; when the Russians refused the German demands, Germany declared war -
Germany vs. France
Germany declares war on France. -
Britain vs. Germany
In an effort to capture Paris quickly, Germany invades neutral Belgium. Britain responds by declaring war on Germany. -
Austria-Hungrary declares War
Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. -
The Lusitania Attack
The British ship, the Lusitania, is torpedoed and sinks off the Irish coast; 1,198 passengers drown, including 114 Americans. -
Germany responds angrily to U.S.
Germany responds to U.S. anger by ending its policy of sinking ships without warning. -
Henry Ford tries to help
Henry Ford charters a "Peace Ship," in an effort to end World War I. -
President Demands End to Submarines
April 19: President Woodrow Wilson publicly demands that Germany end unrestricted submarine warfare. -
San Francisco Bomb
A bomb explodes at a pro-war preparedness parade in San Francisco, killing ten. -
Re-election: Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States with campaign slogan: "He kept us out of the war" -
Zimmerman Telegraph
Britain intercepts and translates German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann's telegram to Mexico urging its entry into war against the United States. -
President Wilson Speech to Congress
In a speech asking Congress to declare war against Germany, President Wilson says, "The world must be made safe for democracy." -
United States Declares War
The United States declares war on the Central Powers. Six Senators and 50 Representatives vote against the declaration.
