-
Period: to
World War I
-
Imperial Expansion
Running out of room for colonies in Africa -
Military Buildup
Because of Expansion for colonies in Africa -
Alliances
Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Triple Entente - Britain, France, Russia -
Assassination
Of Archduke Ferdinand -
War Declared
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia,
because A-H blames Serbia for the unification of Slavic people, one of whom was responsible for the Assassination -
Alliances Kick In
Russia protects Serbia,
Germany aids Austria-Hungary, declares war on Russia & France
Germany invades Belgium to get to France,
Britain declares war on Germany for invasion -
Alliances Change
Allied Powers (Previously Triple Entente) - Great Britain, France, Russia
Central Powers (Previously Triple Alliance) - Germany & Austria-Hungary -
Japan joins Allies
-
Ottoman Empire joins Central Powers
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Period: to
New Technology Used
Poison Gas, Armored Tanks, War Airplanes, U-Boats -
Germany torpedoes Lusitania
Lusitania was a British passenger liner with some Americans on board, destroyed by German U-Boats -
Germany torpedoes Sussex, creates Sussex Pledge
Germany U-Boats sink the Sussex, another passenger ship, and to prevent the US from getting mad at them, they make the Sussex pledge that said:
- They would provide compensation to US for any losses they suffered
- German U-Boats will offer warnings to passenger ships that cross through their waters -
US Election
- Wilson nominated for second-term with the slogan - “He Kept Us Out of War”
- Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes attempted to avoid the issue
- Wilson renominated
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Germany Changes Its Mind
- Reversed policy on civilian ships - announced they would sink all vessels sailing to/from Allies ports on sight
- Germans believed they could defeat Allies before America could enter war
-
Zimmerman Telegram Published
A secret telegram from Germany to Mexico is published in newspapers around the US, the telegram's contents are of Germany egging Mexico into attacking the US -
German U-Boats Sink 4 American Ships
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President Wilson Asks for War Declaration on Germany
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Congress Passes War Declaration, War Declared