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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated while visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia. He was next in line for the Austro-Hungarian throne. The killings set off old tensions in Europe and started WWI. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. With Germany's support, they gave Serbia a list of demands, which Serbia refused. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
The Germans first used poison gas against the allies. If the gas was inhaled, it could kill or seriously injure someone. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
A german U-Boat torpedoed the British passenger liner called the Lusitania near the coast of Ireland. More than 1,000 people died in the tragedy and among those 1,000 people were 128 American passengers. -
Wilson reelected; pledged American neutrality
Wilson narrowly defeated Charles Evens Hughes in the election of 1916 and his phrase was " He kept us out of War". -
Zimmermann Note
Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram that was for Mexico. However, British agents intercepted it and found out that the secret note offered an alliance with Mexico. This angered America and this persuaded Americans to want to be with the Allies. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government.
In November, 1917, riots broke out in Russia due to the way that their government was handling the scarcity of food and fuel. A group called the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian government. In March, 1918, the Bolsheviks leader, Vladimir Lenin, signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. In the treaty, Russia lost a lot of territory to the Germans. Later that year in November, Russia decided that they could not continue in the war and quit. -
U.S declares war
President Wilson decides that America could not remain neutral any longer. Congress believed that we had to defend our rights if we wanted to stay as a world power. -
War ends
On October 4, 1918, Germany asks president Wilson for an armistice. Wilson agreed, but had a list of demands. Germany had to accept his plan for peace and promise to not renew any fighting. All German troops had to leave Belgium and France. Lastly, Wilson said he would only deal with nonmilitary government leaders. The armistice began on November 11, 1918. Satisfyingly, the armistice began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. -
Treaty of Versailles
On June 28, 1919, the Allies and Germany signed the Treaty Of Versailles. Under its terms, Germany had to accept full responsibility for the conflict. Germany had to pay the Allies billions of dollars. Germany also had to disarm and give up its oversea colonies and some territory in Europe.
