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Francis Ferdinand assassination
The objective of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary's South Slav provinces so they could be combined into a Yugoslavia. -
Russia mobilization
The Russian army move their vast military to intervene against the Austria-Hungary military. They do this to help their ally who is Serbia. -
World War 1 begins
Germany invades Belgium, starting World War 1. -
German army fire
The German army fire shells filled with chlorine gas at allied lines. This is first time that large amounts of gas has been used in battle. Even with this the Germans were unable to get the advantage in the breach. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania. The ship carried 1,198 people, 128 of them were Americans. -
Germany Limits Submarines
Reacting to international outrage at the sinking of the Lusitania and other neutral passenger lines, Kaiser Wilhelm suspends unrestricted submarine warfare. This is an attempt to keep the United States out of the war, but it severely hampers German efforts to prevent American supplies from reaching France and Britain. -
First Tanks
The British employ the first tanks ever used in battle, at Delville Wood. Although they are useful at breaking through barbed wire and clearing a path for the infantry, tanks are still primitive and they fail to be the decisive weapon, as their designers thought they would be. -
Submarines Back
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in European waterways. This act, more than any other, draws the United States into the war and causes the eventual defeat of Germany. -
Zimmerman Telegram
British intelligence gives Wilson the so-called Zimmermann Telegram, a message from German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing that Mexico side with Germany in case of war between Germany and the United States -
Wilson for War
President Wilson outlines his case for war to Congress. -
U.S. Enters War
Congress authorizes a declaration of war against Germany. The United States enters World War I on the side of France and Britain. -
Selective Service Act
Congress passes the Selective Service Act authorizing the draft. Although criticized for destroying democracy at home while fighting for it abroad, President Wilson claims he sees no other option and signs the bill into law. -
Germany and Russia Peace
The Germans sign a peace treaty with the new Bolshevik government of Russia. The terms of the treaty give Germany huge tracts of land that had been the Ukraine and Poland, and peace on the Eastern Front. -
Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny is the first major American offensive of the war. It gave America courage to fight German in larger attacks. -
Chateau-Thierry
The Americans attack the Germans at Chateau-Thierry. This battle would morph into the larger Battle of Belleau Wood. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
The Battle of Belleau Wood begins as the U.S. Marine Corps attacks the Germans across an open field of wheat, suffering huge casualties. It started June 6, 1918 and ended June 26,1918.
