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Description:
Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie the Duchess of Hohenburg, are killed by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip. The Austrian government suspects that Serbia is responsible. Key People/Terms:
Victims: Franz Ferdinand & Sophie the Duchess of Hohenburg
Killed by Bosnian Serb
Serbia & Austrian Government Significant to the US:
The death of Franz Ferdinand & Sophie the Duchess of Hohenburg. -
Description:
“This is a dark day and a dark hour. The sword is being forced into my hand. This war will demand of us enormous sacrifice in life and money, but we shall show our foes what it is to provoke Germany.”
– Kaiser Wilhelm II, July 31, 1914 Key People/Terms:
Dark Hour, War, Sacrifice, Foes
Germany Significant to the US:
It was a dark hour and the beginning of World War I. -
Description:
Germany invades Luxembourg and Belgium. France invades Alsace. British forces arrive in France. Nations allied against Germany were eventually to include Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, United States, Canada, Serbia, India, Portugal, Montenegro, and Poland. Key People/Terms:
Nations Allied, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium Significant to the US:
The Nations Allied against Germany. -
Description:
The Cunard passenger ship Lusitania sinks in British waters. It was attacked by German U-boat U-20, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Walther Schwieger. Many women and children and 128 U.S. citizens drown. Germans will end unlimited submarine warfare on passenger liners on September 1, 1915 because of worldwide outrage at this attack on civilian shipping
Key People/Terms:
Lusitania Passenger Ship, Attacked by Germany, Worldwide Outrage
Significant to the US:
Germans attack passenger ship -
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Description:
The British intercept a telegram an according to the scheme, Germany would provide tactical support while Mexico would benefit by expanding into the American Southwest, retrieving territories that had once been part of Mexico.
Key People/Terms:
German Foreign Office, Germany, Mexico, United States, Zimmermann Telegram, Teddy Roosevelt
Significant to the US:
Germany tries to take territories from the United States and others in the alliance -
Description:
The day after an overwhelming majority in the Senate votes for war, President Wilson signs the declaration. The United States quickly puts the entire country on the road to war. Going from a standing army of 133,000 men with almost no heavy artillery pieces with basic combat training.
Key People/Terms:
Senate Votes, President Wilson, United States, Standing Army, Heavy Artillery
Significant to the US:
United States getting soldiers ready for war -
Description:
The American Expeditionary Forces, serving in segregated units and primarily assigned to manual labor, African American men and women defended democracy overseas, while not receiving the full rights of citizenship at home
Key People/Terms:
American Expeditionary Forces, 369th Infantry (Black Rattlers), French Croix de Guerre
Significant to the US:
The American Expeditionary Forces, African American men and women were sent over seas to defend and for manual labor -
Description:
Fighting ends on the Western Front Paris time 11:00 am when Germany signs this armistice with the Allied Powers. The terms are harsh, intended to show German acceptance of defeat and to prevent any lengthy break for Germany to regroup and start military action again
Key People/Terms:
German Delegates, Marshal Foch’s Headquarters, Allied Armistice
Significant to the US:
Germany signed an armistice to make them accept defeat and not to regroup and start military action again -
Description:
Representatives of Germany and the Allied and Associated Powers sign the Treaty of Versailles The Chinese delegates refuse to sign in protest against the Shantung settlement that turns over German mines railroads and telegraph cables in China to the Japanese Key People/Terms:
Representatives of Germany, Associated Powers, Treaty of Versailles, Chinese Delegates Significant to the US:
Representatives of Germany and the Allied and Associated Powers sign the Treaty of Versailles