-
Nicholas is crowned Tsar
Nicholas succeeded to the Russian throne acts the death of his father, Tsar Alexander III. He told his closest friends that he was not prepared to rule of Russia. Nicholas resisted change and decided to keep things the same. Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia. -
Spark of WWI
Archduke Franz Ferdinand who was heir to Austria-Hungary was shot and killed. He was killed while visiting Sarajevo by a Serbian. The man who killed the archduke and his wife was named Gavrilo Princip. The purpose of the assisination was to break of the South Slav provinces of Austria-Hungary's so they could be joined into Yugoslavia. The emperor of Austria- Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
Russian Mobilization
Russia mobilizes its expansive military to prevent the success of Austria-Hungary to benefit with its ally, Serbia. This move leads to the mobilization of the rest of the European Great Powers.The Russian army expanded to over 5,000,000 soldiers with a supply of over 4.6 million riffles.Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia caused the outbreak of Mobilization. It was Tsar Nicholas who decided to mobilize his army. -
World War I Begins
Germany invades Belgium, which officially starts the war.The Germans needed to obtain the territory of Belgium before they declared war on France.The German government commanded to have Belgium and even sent a letter to the Belgian government for a right of free passage. This would give the German troops a better attack on France, to ensure a victory. Belgium was a neutral country, so Germany was forced to occupy the country on the enemy side. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carries 1,198 people. There were 128 Americans on the ship.The ship sunk within 18 minutes. Walter Schwieger was captain of the U-Boat that sank the Lusitania. The ship was torpedoed by the Germans. The sinking caused uproar and enragement of the Americans. -
Rasputin is killed
Rasputin is murdered by Russian nobles. He was imprisioned and poisoned in his wine and food, then he was finally shot and collapsed. The nobles wanted to end his influence over the royal family. Some think that he was plannimg to make peace with the Germans. It was very difficult and took very strategic actions to kill Rasputin because he kept finding ways to escape. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a message from the German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing that Mexico allies with Germany in case of war between Germany and the United States. Germany promises to return the provinces of Texas to Mexico, and the rest of the American Southwest. México felt they could not win a war against the United States. The purpose was to postpone the export of supplies and other war materials from the United States. -
The United States Enters the War
The Congress proposes a declaration of war against Germany. President Woodrow Wilson declared war in Germany because of their violation of submarine rights.The United States enters World War I as allies of France and Britain.Two million U.S. soldiers were stationed on battlefields in France. Most of the Americans were opposed to entering the war because they wanted to remain neutral. -
Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party
Hitler's rise to power started when he joined the political party known as the German Workers' Party. Hitler told the other party members to elect him leader or he would not return. His tactic was to use violence to promote his political objectives and to recruit party members who were willing to do the same.Hitler promised success in elections, to gain power through majority vote, and then reform the German government. His main goal was to establish a Nazi dictatorship in Germany. -
The USSR is Established
After the Russian Revolution is over, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was founded. It was the first country in the world to be based on the Marxist ideas dealing with socialism.In The USSR was run by the Communist Party. The territories that made up the Soviet Union grew into one of the most powerful and impactiful places in the world. The Soviet Union existed from 1922 to 1991. -
Germany becomes part of the League of Nations
The Treaty of Versailles caused much affliction, so many looked to the League to bring stability and peace to the world.The most powerful nations known as Russia and Germany did not support the League. At first, Germany was allowed to join because thus were blamed for causing the war. Germany eventually became the fifth member of the council. Germany wanted to be a part of the League of Nations to be accepted by the world. -
Herbert Hoover is Elected
Herbert Hoover was the 31st president, and took office the year the U.S. economy was suffering the Great Depression. Hoover blamed the American people for the financial crisis. He did not realize how severe the problem was, and did not use his power of government to resolve it. -
Stock Market Crash
Billions of dollars were lost,wiping out thousands of investors on Black Thursday. This led to the Great Depression which was the longest-lasting economic downfall. Production levels went down and unemployment, low wages, and debt became a serious problem. It effected all Western industrialized countries around the world. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
Congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff to raise import duties to protect American manufactures from foreign competition. It does not really impact the American economy, but puts Europe into more trouble. The United States experienced significant decreases in the amounts of imports and exports. -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler wanted to take over Poland to obtain Lebensraum, or “living space,” for the German people. When the Germans colonized the territory, they demanded the native Slavs to be enslaved.The Polish territory was divided between Germany, the Soviet Union, Lithuania and Slovakia. The German militia invaded Poland from the north, south, and west. The invasion was the start of World War II. -
France and Great Britain declare war on Germany
As a response to Hitler’s attack on Poland, Britain and France who are allies, declare war on Germany. The United States remained neutral. Coincidentally, Great Britain had promised to provide military support to Poland if it were attacked by the Germans, which it later was. Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain gave an speech informing his country about the war. -
Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia
The invasion of Russia was also known as "Operation Barbarossa". The Nazis attacked The Soviet Union with over 4 million troops. Hitler's plan for this conquest was for the territory to be repopulated by Germansand to use slave labour for the war effort. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor.The bombing killed more than 2,300 Americans and destroyed the American battleship U.S.S.The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed to Congress to declare war on Japan. The United States and Japan were not on good terms to begin with, so this made the conflict between them bunch more serious. The Americans entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. -
Battle of Midway
The United States defeated Japan in a major naval battle six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was the turning point got the Pacific War. The battle out the Japanese on the defensive and the Allies on the offensive side. Commander Nimitz was able to decode Japanese war plans to produce a surprise attack. It was the Americans first success over the Japanese in the Pacific theater. -
Adolf Hitler commits suicide
Hitler committed he realized Germany had lots the war.He killed himself by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. After his death, Germany surrendered to the Allied forces. His wife deceived to also commit suicide the same way.Prior to his death, he received the news that Berlin would get no more troops and that it would be controlled by the Russians.
