WWI Timeline

  • Paul Klee Born

    Social- The works of many painters, such as Klee, broke the rules of traditional painting after WW1. Art became more surreal after the war.
  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated by a Member of the Black Hand

    Politcal Event- The assassination of the Archduke was the spark that started the war.
  • Austria-Hungary Declares War

    Political- Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia a month after Ferdinand's assassination, and soon other countries are joining in.
  • Russia and Germany Declare War

    Political- Russia and Germany go to war with each other as increasingly more and more countries become involved
  • Britain Declares War

    Political- Enraged by Germany's invasion of Belgium, Britain declares war.
  • Germany invades Belgium

    Military- Germany invades the neutral Belgium in order to get at France for their Schlieffen Plan.
  • Woodrow Wilson Declares America's Neutrality

    Economic- As the war begins, president Woodrow Wilson declares that America is neutral. American bankers were then allowed to lend money to BOTH sides of the war.
  • Trench Warfare

    Social- Trench warfare begins for the first time. While this is also very much a military event, it also changed the way battles are fought forever.
  • Italy Joins the Allies

    Political- Italy had previously pulled away from the Triple Alliance in the hopes of joining the winning side of the war. Later, they decide that the Allies look like they have the best chances, and join in hopes of winning land.
  • Russian Czar Steps Down

    Political- The leader of Russia, Czar Nichlas II, steps down from his position and Alexander Kerensky takes over.
  • US Congress Declares War on Germany

    Military- After intercepting a message from Germany to Mexico promising Mexico American lands, the US joins the war as an Allied Power.
  • Russia has a Revolution

    Social- Bolshevik Communists seize control over Russia. Though there was much wrong with the way Communist Russia treated its people, women enjoyed more equal rights than they had previously.
  • Wilhelm II Abdicates

    Political- The leader of Germany, Wilhelm II, steps down, since the Allies would not allow peace until Germany installed a new government.
  • May Fourth Movement

    Social- Chinese people protest over how little they got out of the Treaty of Versailles. The man who would become leader of China's Communist Revolution took part.
  • Treaty Signed

    Diplomatic- The Treaty of Versailles was signed and the war is finally done and over with.
  • Charles Lindbergh Flight

    Technological- Charles Lindbergh flies across the Atlantic Ocean alone.
  • Motorola founded

    Technologiocal- Motorola's founder went on to invent the first car stereo, who's date seems iffy other than the fact that it was sometime in the 1930s.
  • Jiang Jieshi Becomes President of China

    Social- Jiang becomes China's new leader and China becomes engulfed in a civil war between him and the Communists.
  • Black Tuesday

    Economic- The Great Depression begins.
  • US Congress Passes Emergency Banking Act

    Economic- The Emergency Banking Act reorganized banks and closed ones that were insolvent as part of Roosevelt's plan to help the US through the Great Depression.