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Archduke Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo. The assassin was believed to be a Serbian nationalist, so the Austrians targeted anger toward Serbia. This event sparked World War I. -
US Neutrality
The United States declares its neutrality in World War I. This shows that the US does not want to get involved. -
Lusitania Sinks
German U-Boat torpedoes British passenger line Lusitania, causing 1201 people including 128 Americans. Woodrow Wilson sends four diplomatic protests to Germany. The US begins to get involved because of Germany's attacks. -
Wilson Re-elected
President Woodrow Wilson is re-elected and campaigned on the slogan, "He kept us out of war." The US is hoping to stay out of war. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The British intercept a telegram sent by Alfred Zimmerman in Germany to German embassies in Washington, DC and Mexico City. The telegram outlined a plan for an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the US. The telegram is passed along to the US and is made public, causing interventionists to push for war. The push for war is growing because Germany and Mexico are becoming threats to the US. -
War on Germany
The US declares war on Germany. The US is no longer neutral. -
US Troops
The first American troops land in France. This shows that the US is beginning to get actively involved in the war. -
Battle of Cantigny
Germany had secured a position around the French village Cantigny and the US and France fought to take it back. This was the first major American battle in World War I. -
Armistice
Germans sign the Armistice in France, which ends the fighting at 11 am. US involvement in the war ends. -
Treaty of Versailles
A German delegation signs the Treaty at the Palace of Versailles, France. The treaty had little in common with Wilson's Fourteen Points.