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Germany Declares War on France
Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declares war on France, and they make their own declaration of war against Germany. Getting their troops ready to move into the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, but it had forfeited to Germany in the settlement that ended the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. -
Archduke Francis Ferdinand Assisinated
His wife and him were traveling Sarajevo in an open car, but took a wrong turn. Then, Princip saw an opportunity and shot Ferdinand and his wife. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
A month after the assignation of Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia, feeling threatened by ambition in the tumultuous Balkans region of Europe. Austria-Hungary determined that the proper response to the assassinations was to prepare for a possible military invasion of Serbia. -
Germany Declares War on Russia
Germany warned Russia not to be fully mobilized against Austria-Hungary. Germany began its own mobilization and Russia refused the German demands. Germany then declared war on the czarist empire. -
Germany Invades Belgium
German forces were angry with Belgium because they chose to uphold their neutrality. Germany demanded passage through the country, so they invaded Luxembourg. -
Germany U-Boats sink the Lusitania
First, England blockaded Germany to disregard the regulation. Then, they torpedoed the German ships, including the Lusitania. -
Germany Announces Unrestricted Submarine Warefare
Germans were in the Atlantic and had torpedo-armed submarines prepared to attack any and all ships were said to be sited in war-zone waters. -
The Zimmerman Note Is Discovered
When sending a note from the German foreign secretary to the German ambassador in Mexico, it somehow got in the hands of the Americans. The note proposed a Mexican-German alliance in the case of war between the U.S. and Germany, since Americans had this, they published it on the front pages of newspapers across America. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
President Woodrow Wilson cited Germany's violation of its pledge to suspend unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Also, Wilson declared war on Germany for trying to turn Mexico against the U.S. -
The Russian Monarchy is Overthrown
The provisional government came to power after the February Revolution resulted in the Russian monarchy being overthrown in March 1917. Weak and unpopular, the provisional government drew criticism from both the right and left. Lenin, a Marxist revolutionary and founder of the Bolshevik Party, had been exiled by the monarchy, but returned to Russia in April to incite workers and soldiers to rise up against the government. -
Russia Signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Russia gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, gave Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary, recognized the independence of Ukraine, Georgia, and Findland, and ceded Kars, Adrahan, and Batum too. -
Congress Passes The Sedition Act
The act violated individual rights under the Constitution due to it prohibiting public opposition to the government. You could get fined or improsined if you did not follow this act. -
Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles
It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed exactly 5 years after the assination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand.
