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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated sparked the beginning of the first World War. He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination. This is one of the main causes leading up to the war. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Europe's alliance system caused the conflict to spread quickly. This caused Germany to defend Austria-Hungary. It also caused Russia to defend Serbia. After this, everyone was choosing sides. This is one of the main causes of World War I -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
The first time the gas was used it was used against the Allied troops. The gas could kill or seriously injury anyone who breathed it. Soon after, the Allies began to use the gas as well. To protect the soldiers they began to use gas masks. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat near the coast of Ireland. The Lusitania was a British passenger liner. The U.S. had warned the Germans that they would be held responsible for any lives lost in submarine attacks. More than 1,000 people died when the Lusitania sank. 128 of them were American citizens. -
Wilson reelected; pledged American neutrality
President Wilson still hoped to stay out of the war. Antiwar feeling in the U.S. was still strong, but some people saw the national military buildup as a step toward entering the war. The democrats campaign slogan was " he kept us out of the war". However Wilson only narrowly defeated republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian Government
When Nicholas II had given up his thrown, a new government had started a they were pro-war. The new government was not able to solve some of Russia's big problems such as food shortages. In November some riots started to break out. A group called the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin overthrew the government. The Bolsheviks wanted to get out of the war and focus on setting up a communist state. -
Zimmermann Note
The Zimmermann note was a telegram sent by Arther Zimmermann. The note was bound for Mexico. This telegram offered a alliance with Germany. The British intercepted this telegram and decoded it. When Wilson broke the news to the pubic, he wasn't believed. After they realized it was real it set off a anti-German feeling in the United States. -
U.S. declares war
The United Stated realized the they could no longer remain neutral. After some debate, the United States decided to declare war on Germany. The United States had to raise an army quickly. On May 8, Congress set up the Selective Service Act, which set up a military draft. By the war's end some 24 million men had registered, of them 3 million were called to serve. -
War Ends
The war ended when Germany agreed to stop fighting. Germany on October 4, 1918 asked for an armistice. President Wilson said yes only on certain conditions. The conditions were they had to stop all fighting, all German troops had to leave Belgium and France, and he would only deal with nonmilitary government leaders. After the Germans agreed the armistice began on November 11,1918. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Allies and Germany had to sign this treaty under harsh conditions. Germany had to accept full responsbility for the war. It had to pay the Allies a billion dollars. It had to disarm completely and give up its overseas colonies.
