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Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were visiting Bosnia. A bomb is thrown at their car, but misses. Surviving, they continue their visit. During the visit, they were shot and killed by a lone assassin.
This is significant to the U.S. because this was the root cause of WWI, which the U.S. was attempting to stay neutral in. -
Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration of war forces countries that Britain controls into the war. This includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.
This caused trade difficulties from U.S. to Britain, as the U.S. was trying to stay neutral and giving them resources could cause conflict. -
A German U-Boat attacks the Lusitania off the Irish shore. It sinks, drowning 1,201 people, 128 being American. President Wilson proceeded to sent four diplomatic protests to Germany.
This sent the U.S. on edge. They forced Germany to not attack any more U.S. merchant or passenger boats and threatened diplomatic relations with Germany. -
President Wilson is re-elected to his second term. He campaigned on the slogan, "He kept us out of war."
This event is significant to the U.S. because the country wanted to remain neutral, which Wilson had done successfully. -
The British intercept a telegram sent by foreign secretary Alfred Zimmerman. The telegram outlined an alliance for between Germany and Mexico against the United States. Germany would provide tactical support to Mexico, and help it recover lands lost to the United States. The telegram is passed along from the British to the Americans, where it is publicized. This caused an outcry in interventions in the U.S..
This threatened U.S. security and almost sent them into the war. -
America officially enters the war and declares war on Germany.
This is significant because the U.S. was trying to stay neutral but eventually had no choice but to enter the war. This changed economy, job opportunities (since most men were drafted), and more in the U.S.. -
The first of thousands of American troops land in France.
America was officially retaliating in the war. -
The Sedition Act was passed, expanding on the Espionage Act of 1917. The Sedition Act covered a wider range of offenses, in particular the speech and expression of opinion that cast the government or war effort in a negative light.
This made it so that any negative and scandalous talk about the U.S. government to interfere with the war was a crime. This helped keep the U.S. in the war, no matter what the citizens wanted. -
In a French railway car, the Germans sign an armistice which goes into effect at 11:00, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
This included the U.S. because it helped end WWI and took them out of the war. -
The Treaty of Versailles is officially signed, permanently ending WWI.
This is significant to the U.S. because it changed the economy once again and opened back up job opportunities to men since they were out of the war.