World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, and the Great Depression

Nationalism

1871

Strong nationalism led to Germany becoming powerful. Which Germany becoming more powerful led to Germany to become power hungry and a desire for a greater Germany, and this eventually led to WWI.

Alliances

1882

The Triple Alliance formed which includes Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The treaty states that Germany and Austria-Hungary would help Italy if it was attacked by France. Italy would help Germany if attacked by France. If there happens to be a war between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Italy promised to remain neutral.

Imperialism

1898

The American Imperialism started. By 1914 the US gained control of the Philippines, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and several islands in the Pacific.

Militarism

1906

The Naval Race between Britain and Germany. With Great Britain’s creation of a battleship the dreadnought, Germany become jealous. This spaked Germany to create their own dreadnought which then ultimately created a Naval Race between the two countries.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie of Austria.

Jun 28, 1914

This act is considered to be what sparked WWI to start.

Germany's Blank Check to Austria-Hungary

Jul 5, 1914

Germany promised that they would back up Austria-Hungary if they take action upon Serbia.

WW1 Begins

Jul 28, 1914

WW1 Began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Soon after Germany attacked France which triggered Great Britain to declare war on Germany.

Sinking of the Lusitania

1915

Germany shot a torpedo without warning to a British ship. This caused 1,198 people to die, 128 of which were Americans.

Zimmerman Telegram was sent

Jan 19, 1917

The encrypted message was an attempt from Germany to try to convince Mexico to have an alliance with them prior to the US joining WWI.

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare

Jan 31, 1917

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare began. Germany would have unrestricted submarine warfare to restrict Britain from receiving goods.

US enters WWI

Apr 2, 1917

Upon entering WWI it joined the Allied side to help finish off Germany from continuing to fight and also helped stopped Europe’s land empires, which resulted in the creation of 6 new countries.

Effects of WWI

1918

WWI ends with over 41 million casualties of those 41 million, 18 million dead and 23 million wounded. 6 new countries formed poland, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Estonia. Many American people turned away from the Democrats and Wilsonian Idealism and wanted to turn back into a peaceful nation.

Treaty of Versailles

Jun 28, 1919

It stated that Germany must concede territories to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. It also stated that Germany is responsible for starting the World War which means Germany must pay for all the damage that has be caused.

Hitler’s rise to power began

Sep 12, 1919

It started when Hitler joined the political party know as Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. After this Hitler started to get higher and higher political positions until he reached the top.

Dawes Plan begins

1924

Thanks to Dawes Plan French troops left the Ruhr Valley, provided a large capital influx to German industry, began ties between German industry and American investment banks, and resulted in a victory for the German steel industry.

Young Plan submitted

Jun 7, 1929

Young Plan allowed Germany to pay of $8 billion over the course of 59 years. However the Wall Street Crash occurred which means any financial support for Weimar was impossible.

The Great Depression starts

Oct 29, 1929

It started with a huge stock market crash and the failure of thousands of banks to react to it properly. Along with an economic depression year long droughts started.