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Assasination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand
Austrian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip while they were visiting Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia. -
Germany invades Belgium
The United Kingdom declares war on Germany, after Germany invades Belgium. -
The First Battle of Marne begins
The First Battle of the Marne begins. Trench warfare begins as soldiers on both sides dig in. It was an Allied victory against the German Army and effectively ended the month long German offensive. -
United Kingdom sets up a blockade
The United Kingdom announces that the North Sea is a military area, effectively creating a blockade of goods into Germany. This affected trade of US with other European countries. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania is sunk by German U-boat killing. Ship sank in 18 minutes killing 1,200 people, 128 of those were Americans. -
Sinking of the Sussex
German U-boats sunk the French passanger ship, Sussex, in the English Channel. It was mistaken as a minelaying boat. This lead to the Sussex Pledge where the Germans pledged to never fire on a passanger, cargo or merchant ships again without warning, -
The Battle of the Somme begins
France and Britian forces against German forces. During the Battle of the Somme, tanks are first introduced into battle. Over 1,000,000 men were injured or killed. -
The Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a coded message sent from Germany to Mexico. The British managed to intercept this coded message and were able to decipher it. The message revealed Germany's plan to restart USW as well as offered Mexico territory from the United States if Mexico were to declare war on the United States. -
US Declares War on Germany
On April 2, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany and on April 6, Congress granted the request. Several key events leading up to this included the sinking of the Lusitania, the Zimmerman Telegram sent to Mexico by Germany, and to maintain capitalism and democracy. -
Signing of a separate peace between Germany and Russia
Russia signed an armistice with Germany, ending the fighting on the Eastern Front. -
President Wilson issues his Fourteen Points to peace
Woodrow Wilson's 14 points were first announced in a speech Wilson gave to the American Congress. Wilson's 14 points became the basis for peace and it was because of it that Germany and their allies agreed to an armistice.
See the 14 points here: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/woodrow_wilson1.htm -
Germany launches the Spring Offensive
Luderndorff ordered a massive German attack on the Western Front. The Spring Offensive was Germany’s attempt to end WWI. With 500,000 troops added to Germany’s strength from the Russian Front, Luderndorff was confident of success. -
The Second Battle of the Marne begins
This was the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front. The German attack failed when French foces counterattacked with troops and several hundred tanks. The Second Battle of the Marne was basically the beginning of the end of the Great War. -
Armistice Declared
Germany signs the armistice at Compiegne, France. Fighting ends at 11:00am on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. -
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
The Versailles Treaty was the peace settlement between Germany and the Allied Powers that officially ended World War I
