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World War One Begins
World War One begins when Austria declares war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, done by the Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand. In the months following, Europe breaks out into war: Great Britain, Russia, Germany, and France joining the conflict. -
President Wilson Officially Declares Neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson officially declares neutrality through a speech on August 19th, 1914, before the U.S. Senate, a few weeks after the war begun in Europe. In the speech, Wilson states that even though many American citizens recall ancestry from many of the countries now at war in Europe, that America should remain impartial, without favoring either side. Woodrow wants to continue America's tradition of staying out of international conflicts for not participating in the war. -
German U-Boat Sinks Passenger Ship Lusitania
America had been doing business by providing supplies to the Central and Allied Powers in Europe. However, Britain gained power over Atlantic trade routes, causing American businesses to only sell to the Allied Powers. Then German U-Boats began to attack Allied and American merchant ships, so the countries began placing ammunition on non-merchant ships, such as The Lusitania. The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat killing 1,198 men, women, and children. 128 of whom were American citizens. -
Woodrow Wilson Wins his Relection
President Woodrow Wilson narrowly wins the presidential election of 1916, which would be his second term to office. Wilson's campaign slogan was, "He kept us out of war." Wilson did keep America neutral throughout 1915 and 1916 after he made a pact with Germany to end the U-Boat Campaign. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
Great Britain intercepts and decodes a telegram from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman intended for the German Ambassador to Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhart. The message gave instructions; if America were to enter the war on the side of the Allied Powers, Mexico would get military assistance from Germany to attack the United States. In exchange, Mexico could gain Mexico's former territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Great Britain turns the telegram over to the United States. -
The United States Enters WWI
The United States enters WWI, declaring war on Germany, joining the Allied Powers. On April 2nd, 1917, President Wilson went to congress, asking for a declaration of war on Germany. Congress approved the declaration of war four days later, on April 6th, 1917. The declaration comes after the Zimmerman Telegram and repeated attacks on American boats and ships by German U-Boats. -
The Selective Service Act of 1917
On May 18th, 1917, President Wilson signed into law the Selective Service Act of 1917. The Selective Service Act required all healthy men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for the Great War. By June of 1917, about 10 million men had been drafted into the war. Propaganda helped the war effort very much, encouraging men to enlist for military service, and the citizens who remained at home to ration their meats and grains as well as buy war bonds in order to help finance the war. -
U.S. Troops arrive in France
On June 26th, 1917, 14,000 American troops land in France to begin training for the war. For the Allied Powers, the arrival of new and 'fresh' troops was relieving.
The American troops were not called on to fight until the spring of 1918. In May and June of 1918, the Allied and American forces joined as one against the Germans. -
President Wilson Delivers 'Fourteen Points' Speech
On January 8th, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gives a speech to congress giving fourteen points that should be used to outline peace and peaceful settlement of the war. The speech was translated and given to soldiers. The speech gave hope to those fighting in the war that peace may finally come. -
The Great War Ends
Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allied Powers early in the morning of November 11th, 1918. The armistice agreement stopped all fighting, but was a temporary end to the war, as it was a surrender. The Treaty of Versailles officially ended the war in 1919. Prior to the armistice, a battle raged between the Central and Allied Powers for 100 days - called the Hundred Day Offensive. This battle is what tipped the scales in favor of the Allied Powers winning the war. -
The Aftermath of WWI
The Great War had a large effect on the U.S. in the years following the end of WWI.
The propaganda acts brought U.S. nationalism and patriotism to a new high.
The business ventures into Europe during WWI made the U.S. a world economic power. Additionally, the U.S. took advantage of the recovering Europe and began to export.
After the Treaty of Versailles was signed, Wilson continued to campaign for the League of Nations, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the League of Nations in 1919. -
The Treaty of Versailles is Signed
In the former royal palace, called Versailles, near Paris, France, The Treaty of Versailles is signed, agreeing to peace between Germany and the Allied Powers. The Treaty was a result of the Paris Peace Conference, where leaders from all over the world participated in meetings with each other. The Treaty assigns the blame of WWI completely onto Germany. The Treaty called for Germany to pay for the reparations of the war and surrender the German leader who led the country throughout WWI.
