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Prussia's Military Defeats France
The defeat in 1871 showed the world that Prussia's army was the strongest and most powerful military force in Europe. It contributed to the new idea that developing a ruthless military system and giving the military great power was necessary. "This victory also secured German unification, allowing Prussian militarism and German nationalism to become closely intertwined. Prussian commanders, personnel and methodology became the nucleus of the new German imperial army"(alphahistory.com). -
The United States Annexes the Hawaiian Islands
The affair of annexing Hawaii dragged on until after Cleveland left office. "When war broke out with Spain in 1898, the military significance of Hawaiian naval bases as a way station to the Spanish Philippines outweighed all other considerations"(ushistory.org). President William McKinley eventually signed the joint resolution that resulted in the official annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. -
Second Boer War Begins
The initiation of this war is undeniably due to nationalism. Both the British Empire and the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State were feeling a sense of nationalism which combined with past history to push them into a heated battle."Minor fighting with Britain began in the 1890's, and in October 1899 full-scale war ensued."(History.com). -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated
"Pan-Slavism was particularly opposed to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its control and influence over the region"(alphahistory.com). This combined with intense pan-Slavic nationalism led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. This event immediately led to the eruption of World War I. -
Germany Gives Austria-Hungary a “Blank Check”
"The letter and memo included nothing like a point-blank demand for support – Austrian diplomacy was both too proud and too delicate for that – but they left no doubt that Austria-Hungary was asking for German backing in a very risky venture that might involve war with Russia"(mentalfloss.com). The "blank check" was essential in reinforcing Austro-Hungarian leaders in their choice to commence war with Serbia. -
Austria Declares War on Germany
Austria and Germany were close allies. When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Germany was brought into War. This alliance is considered one of the most influential alliances that influenced the lead up to World War I. -
World War I Begins
WWI technically began after Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Besides France, Russia, Italy, and the United States, Great Britain also got involved against the Central Powers. Britain promised to defend Belgium when push comes to shove under the Treaty of London, which it entered into in 1839. So, the British were forced to get involved in World War I essentially in response to Germany invading Belgium. -
The Lusitania Sinks
"On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat operating off the coast of Ireland fired a torpedo into RMS Lusitania, causing the massive ocean liner to list precariously and then sink in just 18 minutes. The attack, part of Germany’s campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare, killed 1,198 passengers and crewmembers, including 128 Americans"(history.com). Contrary to popular belief, this didn't exactly bring about the United States' participation in World War I. -
The Zimmerman Telegram is Issued
The Zimmermann Telegram was a confidential diplomatic communication officially produced from the German Foreign Office. It proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States' ever engaged in World War I against Germany. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Partly in response to the monumental event of the sinking of Lusitania two years prior, Germany responded by resuming unrestricted submarine warfare. "On January 31, 1917, Bethmann Hollweg went before the German Reichstag government and made the announcement that unrestricted submarine warfare would resume the next day, February 1"(history.com). -
The United States Enters World War I
Originally the United States wanted to remain neutral in the war. However, they eventually decided to join their allies and ended up having a strong presence and influence on it. "On April 6, 1917, the U.S. joined its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France"(americaslibrary.gov). -
World War I Ends
The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was over 38 million: there were over 17 million deaths and 20 million wounded. At the end of WWI, the Treaty of Versailles was signed creating nine new nations including : Finland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. As a result of the mass of deaths and destruction from the war, the United States felt a heavy, grim weight of grief and disillusionment. -
The Treaty of Versailles is Signed
"World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. Negotiated among the Allied powers with little participation by Germany, its 15 parts and 440 articles reassigned German boundaries and assigned liability for reparations"(history.com). This treaty also weakened Germany by forcing them to pay a large sum of money for damage done; in addition they lost a huge amount of land. -
The Dawes Plan is Made
Dawes Plan was an arrangement for Germany to pay for a bulk of reparations for the damage done after World War I. "On the initiative of the British and U.S. governments, a committee of experts, presided over by an American financier, Charles G. Dawes, produced a report on the question of German reparations for presumed liability for World War I. The report was accepted by the Allies and by Germany on Aug. 16, 1924"(britannica.com). -
The Stock Market Crashes
"On October 29, 1929, Black Tuesday hit Wall Street as investors traded some 16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange in a single day. Billions of dollars were lost, wiping out thousands of investors. In the aftermath of Black Tuesday, America and the rest of the industrialized world spiraled downward into the Great Depression"(history.com). Ultimately this crash can be attributed to bad stock market investments, low wages, a bad agricultural sector, and high amounts of debt. -
Hitler is Appointed Chancellor of Germany
After his appointment of Chancellor, it took him about nineteen months before he achieved full power. However, once he took power a lengthy reign of terror followed. His followers were called "nazis" and his main subjects of torture were Jews.
