World War 1 Events

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Jun 28, 1914

Shot in the streets

Declaration of War

Jul 28, 1914

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, officially starting World War 1.

Ottoman Empire joins the War

Aug 2, 1914

Alliances in 1914

Aug 31, 1914

Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy
Triple Entente: Great Britain, France and Russia

Poison Gas First Used

Apr 22, 1915

First used by the Germans; gas masks became standard equipment

Armored Tanks First Used

Jan 1, 1916

First used by the allies; Germans see effectiveness and begin production.

Dogfighting Begins

Jan 1, 1916

Airplanes were used to observe movements and drop bombs; was the most dramatic new weapon

1916 Election

Nov 7, 1916

The Republicans divided, candidate was Charles Evans Hughes, who attempted to avoid the Republican division.

Brink of War

Jan 1, 1917

Germany revises its policy on submarine warfare; Would sink on sight all vessels sailing to Allied ports.

Zimmerman Telegram

Jan 19, 1917

A "secret" telegram from Germany to Mexico that is intercepted by Great Britain. Released on March 1st to the public.

America Has Enough

Mar 1, 1917

Germany attacked and sank 4 American ships; 36 people die; Wilson calls Congress for Declaration of War Against Germany; Declaration of War is official on April 6th, 1917.