World war 1 1 638

WW1 Timeline

  • The Start of WW1

  • President Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would stay neutral throughout the war.

  • A German U-boat sank the Lusitania which is a British passenger ship which had among 123 Americans on it.

  • German U-boat sank another British passenger ship

  • The Sussex Pledge

    Germany suspends unannounced attacks on merchant vessels. This Pledge helped keep the U.S. out of the war.
  • Germany resumes unconditional submarine warfare.

    Germany renews surprise attacks on merchant and passenger ships even though the U.S. would likely declare war.
  • Zimmerman Telegram Intercepted

    The American public learns about a German proposal to help Mexico if the U.S. enters the war.
  • Wilson Addresses America

    Wilson says that America has no quarrel with German people. He said we are fighting against groups of ambitious men who want power.
  • United States officially declares war against Germany

    The U.S. did not declare against Austria-hungary until December 7, 1917.
  • The Espionage Act of 1917

    This law made it a crime to help the enemy by spreading lies.
  • The Sedition Act of 1918

    The Sedition Act made it illegal to speak or write anything against the government, the flag, or the army.
  • Germany Requests Armistice

    Men on both sides of the war climbed out of the trenches to celebrate surviving the war.
  • Treaty of Versailles

    This treaty was created by leaders of France, England, Italy, and the United States. The treaty required Germany to pay reperations and disarm. The treaty also created the League of Nations but many republicans disagreed with it because they were worried it would ruin U.S. foreign policy.
  • War officially ends for the United States

    The senate ratifies separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary. Also, the United States never joined the League of Nations.