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Stalemate Develops Outside Paris
After the German army invaded Belgium and advanced into France, they were stopped by the French and British forces at the First Battle of the Marne. Neither side could gain a decisive victory, leading to trench warfare. -
Assassination of Francis Ferdinand
Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Serbian nationalist group. -
Lusitania is Sunk
A German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger ship Lusitania, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. -
Russian Revolution Removes the Czar
The February Revolution forced Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate, and a provisional government took control of Russia. -
Russian Revolution Begins
The February Revolution led to Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication, and the October Revolution brought the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, to power. -
Russian Revolution & Rise of Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the provisional government in the October Revolution. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germany resumed its policy of attacking all ships, including neutral ones, without warning. -
United States Declares War
The United States formally entered World War I by declaring war on Germany. -
The Armistice Ends the Fighting
Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies, officially ending the fighting. -
End of World War I & Economic Turmoil
The war ended with the Armistice of November 11, 1918. Many economies collapsed due to war debts, destruction, and inflation. -
Versailles Treaty is Signed
The Treaty of Versailles formally ended the war, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and redrawing European borders. -
Mussolini Establishes Fascist Italy
Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party seized power through the March on Rome, and he became Prime Minister. -
Mussolini Establishes Fascist Italy
Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party marched on Rome, leading King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint him Prime Minister. -
Stalin Consolidates Power in the Soviet Union
After Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin eliminated rivals and gained total control of the Soviet Union. -
Great Depression & Economic Collapse
The U.S. stock market crashed, triggering a worldwide economic crisis. Unemployment and poverty spread globally. -
Stalin’s Totalitarian Rule in the USSR
After Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin eliminated rivals like Trotsky and gained absolute power. -
Racism & Segregation in the U.S.
Racial segregation and discrimination were legally enforced in the U.S. under Jim Crow laws. -
The Nazi Party & Hitler’s Rise to Power
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany and soon established a totalitarian fascist regime, known as the Third Reich. -
Hitler & the Nazi Regime in Germany
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933 and soon turned Germany into a fascist dictatorship under the Third Reich. -
Franco’s Dictatorship in Spain
After winning the Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco established a nationalist dictatorship. -
World War II Begins
Nazi Germany invaded Poland, leading Britain and France to declare war. -
The Cold War & Continued Totalitarianism
After WWII, the world became divided between democratic and communist blocs, led by the U.S. and USSR. -
Mao Zedong’s Communist China
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Mao Zedong, defeated the Nationalists and took control of China.