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Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assasinated while visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia. The couple travelled to Sarajevo to inspect the imperial armed forces. They were viewed as invaders and were shot dead.
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A month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. This led to a chain reaction creating the First World War.
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After Russia mobilized its troops in the defence for Serbia, Germany declares war on Russia.
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Germany declares war on France, planing to attack France through Belgium while fending off Russia. This two front war was known as the Schlieffen Plan.
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Germany invades Belgium, the day after Germany declared war on France and Russia. Germany requested free passage through Belgium so their troops could get to Paris, France more efficiently.
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Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. Because German invaded Belgium, a neutral country, Britain wanted to protect its ally, so declared war on Germany. Canada was automatically at war, since it was part of the Britain Empire.
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USA President Woodrow Wilson declares policy of USA neutrality. A position majority of Americans favoured.
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Germans used chlorine gas in The Second Battle of Ypres, despite the tactic having been outlawed by international agreement since 1907. Many French and Canadian troops were blinded, burned, or killed as a result of this.
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The Second Battle of Ypres began. Despite being outlawed, chlorine gas is used against the French and Canadians by the Germans. Battle ended May 25, 1915
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Traveling from New York to Liverpool, the Lusitania was hit by a German U-boat and sank, killing almost 1200 passengers, American and Canadian civilians among them. This event created a strong public opinion against Germany.
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Despite being part of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary since 1882, at the start of the First World War Italy declared itself neutral. By May 1915 Italy had declared war on Austria-Hungary.
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Newfoundland declares regiment landing at Gallipoli. Gallipoli among many other battles earned the Newfoundland Regiment impressive status during the war.
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The Battle of Somme was a battle of the First World War, resulting in a failed attack. This battle was one of the largest battles of World War One and took place near the Somme River in France. Battle ended November 18, 1916.
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After the sinking of several American ships in Germany's fault, the United States entered the war on their allies side against Germany.
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Germans took control of Vimy Ridge, a key position near the Somme that provided a clear view of the surrounding country side, supply routes and enemy positions. The French and British forces tried to capture the ridge but were unsuccessful for 2 years. The Canadians won this battle and more than 10,5000 troops were killed and wounded. Battle ended April 12, 1917.
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British and Australian troops had entered the battle on the Passchendaele Ridge. The Canadians were reluctant in getting involved, but when they did, the British and Australians were fighting for 3 months and had been very unsuccessful with many casualties. Heavy rainfall left much supply like shell craters unusable. Battle ended November 10, 1917.
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At the Halifax Harbour the French vessel SS Mont Blanc was accidently hit by another ship. With 2500 tonnes of explosives on the vessel at the time of the hit, the collision caused a massive explosion at the harbour. Over 2000 people were killed from the incident, 9000 injured, and thousands of people were homeless after fires caused from the explosion.
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After Manitoban woman were given the right to vote in 1916, Alberta and Saskatchewan followed after Manitoba later that year. Ontario and British Columbia followed the others in 1917, and by May 1918, all British women over 21 could vote federally.
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At 5:00 am on November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed, creating a truce to end war. At 11:00 am the same day the war was to stop, this time and date corresponding to Remembrance Day celebrated each year.
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After the war, the Paris Peace Conference was held to discuss the terms of a peace agreement. The Conference continued for six months, resulting in treaties revolving around new borders and the many losses suffered in the war.
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One of the results from the Paris Peace Conference was the Treaty of Versailles. The document outlined the terms of peace between Germany and the Allies.
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Germany was struggling greatly due to their loss of the war. As a result to this, the German Republic is formed.
