-
The First Moroccan Crisis
On March 31, 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany went to Tangiers to declare his support for the Sultan of Morocco. This support angered France and Britain and began the First Moroccan Crisis. The Kaiser didn't have interest in Morocco, and the purpose of his visit was to disrupt the the Anglo-French Entente. The terms of the Anglo-French Entente allowed Britain to purse interests in Egypt while France was allowed to expand westward into Morocco. -
The Arms Race
The arms race in Europe picked up speed after Germany, France, and Russia made individual moves. On March 1, the German government presented the Parliament with a novelle. The novelle increased the Germany army. On March 6, Premier Aristide Briand presented the French chamber with a law that would increase the size of France's army. In March 1913, Russia developed a plan that would increase military weapons, known as the "Great Military Program". -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and His Wife
On this day, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was murdered by a Serbian nationalist. Ferdinand traveled to Sarajevo to inspect the armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian nationalists were angry because they believed they should apart of the new independent Serbian nation. After a failed first assassination attempt, Ferdinand and his wife were in a car going to visit a injured officer. While they were in a car, they were shot by 19 year Nedjelko Cabrinovic. The murder set of a chain of events. -
The Central Powers are Founded
The Central Powers consisted mainly of the German Empire and Austria-Hungary. On October 29, 1914, the Ottoman Empire entered the war on the Central Powers side. Bulgaria entered on October 14, 1914. -
Germany's Blank Check to Austria
On this day, Kaiser Wilhelm the Second of Germany pledged his country's support for Austria-Hungary in whatever way they decided to handle the issue with Serbia. Historians refer to the Kaiser's pledge as the "blank check" assurance that became an important moment that led up to World War 1. If Germany didn't back Austria-Hungary, the battle between Austria-Hungary and Serbia might have stayed localized. -
The Allied Powers are Linked
The Allied Powers consisted of Great Britain, France, and Russia. These countries were linked by by the Treaty of London of September 5, 1914. Portugal and Japan eventually became allies by a treaty with Britain. Italy became an ally with the Treaty of London of April 26, 1915. After the United States entered the war they became an Associated Power. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine. Of the 1,198 people that died after the liner sank, 128 were American. This attack left many people in the US angry. Germany defended itself by saying they sent a warning intending to attack all ships entering the waters around Britain. It was revealed that the ship was carry war ammunition for Britain. After the US sent three notes protesting its action, Germany promised to end unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warefare
On this day, Germany resumed unrestricted warfare. Commanders of the German navy continued to push for a more aggressive use of their submarines. They managed to convince Kaiser Wilhelm that the U-boat was essential to Germany's war strategy. On January 31, Bethmann Hollweg made the announcement that Germany would resume submarine warfare on February 1. -
The Zimmerman Telegram is Published in the United States
The Zimmerman Telegram was a message from George Zimmerman to the German ambassador to Mexico, proposing a German alliance with Mexico if the US called war on Germany. The message was intercepted by British intelligence in January and given to President Woodrow Wilson on February 26. Wilson authorized the publication of the telegram, and on March 1 it went public. The telegram made US public opinion swing towards America entering the war. -
America Enters the War
Two days after the US Senate voted 82 to 6 to declare war against Germany, the House of Representatives voted to endorse this decision. After this, the United States formally entered World War 1. When the US entered the war, Americans troops took away Germany's advantage on the Western Front. By November 1918, World War 1 was over. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany signed an agreement with the Allies, which ended World War 1. The first World War left more than 9 million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded. At least five million civilians died because of diseases. After World War 1, Austria-Hungary, the Russian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire no longer existed. The Austria-Hungary empire was divided into smaller states. -
The Treaty of Versailles is Signed
World War 1 was officially over after the Treaty of Versailles was signed. The treaty was written by the Allied powers and Germany had little participation. It was made of 15 parts and 440 articles. Part 6 made Germany responsible for reparation, and Article 231 forced Germany to accept responsibility for the war. Germans did not like the treaty because they saw it as unfair. The part they hated the most was the "War Guilt" clause. Germans did not think that they caused the war. -
The Dawes Plan Takes Effect
The Dawes Plan was an arrangement for Germany to pay its reparations after World War 1. The committee was presided over by American financier Charles G. Dawes. They produced a report on the question of German reparations of liability for World War 1. Germany and the Allies accepted the report on August 16, 1924. -
The Great Depression
During the 20's, the stock market was filled with reckless speculation. People were placing their savings into stocks on pure speculation. On October 24, 1929, nervous investors began to sell overpriced shares. On October 29, 16 million shares were traded after Wall Street experienced another wave of panic. It was this day that the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. -
The Rise of Hitler
In the early 1930's, Germany's defeat in World War 1 was still on people's mid, Germans did not have any confidence in its government, the Weimar Republic. This allowed Adolf Hitler and his party, the Nazi's to rise. Hitler was a very powerful speaker who appealed to the Germans desperate for a change. He promised them a better life and a more glorious Germany. -
The Young Plan Goes Into Effect
The Young Plan was a second renegotiation of Germany's World War 1 payments. This committee was headed by Owen D. Young. On February 11, 1929, the new committee met in Paris to revise the Dawes Plan. The report that went into effect on January 1, reduced the amount that Germany owed.
