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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. Gavrilo Princip shot the Archduke and his wife Sophie. July 28, Austria-Hungary declared what was expected to be a short war against Serbia. -
Hollywood, California
Hollywood, Callifornia becomes the center of movie production in the U.S. -
Germany Declares War
Germany declared war on Russia'a ally France. Germany invaded Belgium. Britain declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. -
Lusitania sinks
A U-boat sank the British liner Lustiana off the southern coast of Ireland. 128 of the 1,198 were Americans. Despite Germany's explanation Americans outraged with Germany because of the loss of life. -
Battle of Somme
British suffered 60,000 casualities the first day alone. Final causalties totaled about 1.2 million. The bloody trench warfare continued for over 3 years. -
Woodrow Wilson reelceted as president
Democrats renominated Wilson. After the election Wilson tried to mediate between the warring alliances. In a speech, the president called for "a peace without victory.... a peace between equals" -
Russia withdraws from war
Russian army's stopped the German's plan for a swift victory by forcing the Germans to deploy troops on the eastern front. Russians lost atlest 250,00 men. War caused food shortages and loss of changes on the homefront. -
United States declares war on Germany
President Wilson delivers his war resolution. "Propety can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be." Congress passed the resolution. -
Selective Service sets up the draft.
Required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service. At the end of 1918 24 million registered under the act.3 million were called up. 400,00 African Americans served in the armed forces. -
President Wilson proposes the League of Nations
Wilson voiced the wartime opinions of many diplomats and intelluctantson both sides of Atlantic who believed there was a need for a new type of stsnding interantional organization dedicated to fostering international cooperation. With Europe's population exhausted by four years of total war, Wilson's articulation of a League of Nations was wildly popular. -
Congress passes the Sedition Act
It imposed harsh penalities on anyone found guilty of making false statements that interfered with the prosecution of the war. Those found guilty punished with a fine of 10,000 or imprisonment for twenty years. Wilson and Congress regarded the Sedition Act crucial in order to stifle the spread of dissent in the country in that time of war. -
The Bolsheviks establish a Communist regime in Russia
In October Lenin deposed the Provisonal Governement and proclaimed soviet rule. Lenin's government made peace with Germany. Had to fight a devasting civil war against czarist forces. -
First World War ends
Left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wunded. At least five million civilians died frome disease, starvation, snd exposure. Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France and Great Britain losing nearly a million or more lives. -
Congress approves the nineteenth amendment
Granted women the right to vote. Both Democratic and Republican parties openly endorsed female enfranchisement. 19th Amendment passed both houses of Congress and was sent to the states for ratification. -
A worldwide influnza epidemic
Kills over 30 million. Deadilest in modern history. More than 25% of the US population became sick.
