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World War 1
World War 1, known as at the time as the Great War, was a largescale war between the major European powers. -
US declared neutrality
The United States of America officially announced it was "impartial in thought as well as in action," though later the USA did join the war. -
sinking of the RMS Lusitania
German U-boats sank the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner, killing 1,198, 128 of whom were Americans. -
"Peace Without Victory"
In an appeal to the Senate, President Woodrow Wilson expressed his hope to end the war in Europe. -
Unrestricted U-Boat Attacks
Germany announced that its submarines would attack any foreign vessels sighted in the "war zone" around Great Britain. -
German Diplomacy
Due to Germany's new policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, the USA cut all diplomatic ties with the country. -
Zimmermann Telegram published
German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann wrote to Mexico to offer US territory in exchange for engaging the USA in battle on the homefront. -
Declaration of War
On this day, President Wilson convinced the Senate to join the Great War in Europe. -
War on Germany
On this day, the Senate and the House of Representatives both formally agreed to declare war on Germany. -
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America's involvement in WWI
The United States of America contributed toward the end of the Great War. -
Austrian-Hungarian Diplomacy
The USA cut diplomatic ties with Austria-Hungary, one of the main enemy nations. -
Bulgarian Diplomacy
Bulgaria cut diplomatic ties with the United States. -
Committee on Public Information
The Committee on Public Information was formed by the US government to spread war propoganda to the American people. -
Turkish Diplomacy
Turkey, an ally of Germany's, formally cut all diplomatic ties with the United States. -
Selective Service Act
All men in the US between the ages of 21 and 30 were required to sign up for the draft due to President Wilson's Selective Service Act. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act made interfering with the war effort or supporting the enemy a punishable crime. -
Troops in France
On this day, the first American troops began to arrive in France to join the war. -
Austrian-Hungarian War
After declaring war on Germany, the United States also formally declared war on Germany's ally: Austria-Hungary. -
14 Points
President Woodrow Wilson presented his 14 points, which he believed could essentially be a blueprint for world peace. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act outlined harsh punishments for those who disobeyed the Espionage Act. -
Battle of Cantigny
Four thousand American soldiers captured the town of Cantigny under the command of Major-General Robert Lee Bullard. This extended the front by about a mile. -
Battle of Belleau Wood began
The Battle of Belleau Wood, part of the Allied response to the German Spring Offensive, was the first WWI battle in which the American marines fought. -
Battle of Belleau Wood ended
After spending over twenty days clearing Belleau Wood, American marines declared the territory had been conquered. -
Battle of Château-Thierry
As part of the Second Battle of the Marne, American and French forces fought Germans in the Battel of Château-Thierry. -
Battle of Saint-Mihiel began
General John J. Pershing lead the first American offensive attack on the Germans in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. -
Battle of Saint-Mihiel ended
After only a few days, the American and French forces had cleared out German occupants in the area. -
Battle of the Argonne Forest began
The French and American troops once again attacked German troops as part of the three-pronged Meuse-Argonne Offensive. -
Germany surrendered
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Germany officially surrendered World War One. -
Battle of the Argonne Forest ended
The Battle of the Argonne Forest concluded with the German surrender and the end of the Great War. -
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Paris Conference
For just over a year, the Allies and the losers hammered out various treaties to settle the problems caused by the war. -
Treaty of Versailles
After months of discussion, the Treary of Versailles was signed. This treaty forced Germany to accept all blame of the war as well as many other retributions.
