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The Triple Alliance is Formed
_ The Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
_ The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia. -
The Triple Entente is Formed
_ The Triple Entente was created in reaction to the forming of the Triple Alliance.
_ The Triple Entente included Britain, France and Russia. -
Austria-Hungary Takes Control of Bosnia
_ Austria-Hungary announced the annexation of Bosnia.
_ Damaged relations between Austria-Hungary on the one hand and Russia and the Kingdom of Serbia on another hand. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is Assassinated in Sarajevo
_ Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne.
_ Led to the outbreak of World War I one month later. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
_ Occured one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
_ Finally beginning the World War I. -
Germany Invaded Belgium
_ Germany invades Belgium to outflank the French army.
_ The Belgian Army resisted more than the Germans expected and this help to frustrate the Schlieffen Plan. -
A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania
_ On the Lusitania ship were 1,959 people, 159 of whom were Americans.
_ The sinking of the Lusitania heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany and helped sway American opinion in favor of joining World War I. -
The First Battle of the Somme
_ Took place on etheir side of the river Somme in France.
_ 58,000 British troops (one third of them killed) lost on the first day of the battle.
_ The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of the World War I. -
The Zimmerman Note is Discovered
_ The German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sends a telegram to his ambassador in Mexico, instructing him to propose the Mexican government an alliance against the United States.
_ Outraged American public opinion and helped generate support for the United States declaration of war on Germany -
The United States Declares War on Germany
_ Most Americans sided with the Allies and they did not want to join the war.
_ The US declares the war for two reasons: to ensure the repayment of debts to the U.S. and to prevent a German threat to U.S. shipping.