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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, is assassinated after nearly missing the first attempt. The Austrians believe the assassin was a Serbian Nationalist so they get mad and target Serbia. The U.S. stayed neutral through this time, not imposing economic sanctions on Serbia. -
Great Britain declares war on Germany and allies begin to get involved. The U.S. officially declares their neutrality, what they've maintained from the start. The war has begun. This is a start to the long period of time where the U.S. tries to not get involved despite many things that seem to threaten security, economy, or democracy. -
A German U-Boat strikes the British passenger liner Lusitania killing 1,201 people; 128 of which being American. This angers President Wilson, so in return he sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. The U.S. adds another reason to consider joining the fight. -
President Wilson runs again, campaigning on the slogan 'He kept us out of war.' On this day, he gets re-elected. -
The British intercept a telegram sent by Alfred Zimmermann, a German, meant to go to the German embassies in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. It tells of plans for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States. In the telegram they say that Germany would Mexico regain the land they once lost if Mexico joined the war on their side. When this reached America it was published and people were even more outraged then before. This led America even closer to joining the fight. -
After fighting to stay out of it, the U.S. declares war on Germany. -
After recently declaring war, the first American troops land in France after saying goodbye to their loved ones. The U.S. is officially in the fight. -
This Act was passed to extend the Espionage Act of 1917. The Sedition Act covered a broader range of offenses, especially speech and the expression of opinion that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light or interfered with the sale of government bonds. The U.S. tries to keep its reputation best they can during the war. -
At 5:10 am, in a railway car at Compiègne, France, the Germans sign the Armistice which is effective at 11 am; the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Fighting continues all along the Western Front until precisely 11 o'clock. Artillery barrages also erupt as 11 am draws near as soldiers want to claim they fired the very last shot in the war. The U.S. soldiers and families are relieved. -
At the Palace of Versailles in France, a German delegation signs the Treaty of Versailles formally ending the war. Its 230 pages contain terms that have little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points as the Germans had hoped. Germans back home react with frustration to the people who place the sole blame for the war on Germany. The Americans are happy to have to fight no more.
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