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Achduke Franz Ferdinand
On this day, Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip. This set off the the war. -
The Fighting Starts
On this day, Germany invaded Belgium, following a stategy known as the Stlieffen Plan. -
Lusitania
A German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the Southern baorder of Ireland. Of the 1,198 persons lost, 128 were Americans. The German's defended their actions saying the liner carried ammunition, but American's were furious. -
The 1916 election
The democrats renominated Wilson as President. The republicans nominated Charles Evans Hughes. The election shifted every hour but in the end, wilson won. -
Debate
On this day, the U.S. debated for 15 hours whether they should go to war against Germany. They decided to go forward with it. -
Selection Service Act
Congress passed the Selective Service Act in 1917. The purpose of it was to make men register for the army. Then the militay serice randomly chose men to serve. -
The Espionage & Sedition Act
Under these acts, people could be fined up to 10,000 and sentenced 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane or abusive to the governmet or the war effort. -
Sergeant York
Alvin York is one of America's greatest war heros. On thi day, armed with only a rifle and a revolver, York killed 25 Germans and with six other Doughboys, captured 132 prisoners. -
Flu Epidemic
In the fall of 1918, the United States suffered from the flu epidemic. It affected about one quarter of the population. It devastated the economy. -
Surrender.
On November 3, 1918, Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies. That same day, German sailors mutinied against government authority. -
Women's Rights
The nineteenth amendment was passed in 1920. It finally gave women the righ to vote. -
Flu Ends
In 1919, the flu epidemic ended. Historians believe the the influenza killed as many as 30 million people worldwide. -
The Big Four
Nations gathered in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles to sign a peace treaty. Hoping the treaty would bring peace, it brought anger. -
Wilson Tour
Despite ill health, Wilson set out for a 8,000- mile tour. He delivered 34 speeches in 3 weks, explaining why the U.S. should join the League of Nations. -
Wilson goes downhill.
Wilson suffered a stroke and lay partially paralyzed for more than two months, unable to even speak.
