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Allies
In 1907 there were two major defense alliances in Europe. The triple Entente, later known as the allies, consisted of France, Britain, and Russia. The Triple alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Germany and Austria- Hungary, together with the Ottoman Empire an empire of mostly Middle eastern lands controlled by the turks were later known as the Central powers. -
Central Powers.
Germany and Austria-HUngary, together with the Ottoman Empire an empire of mostly Middle Eastern lands controlled by turks were later known as the Central Powers. The alliances provided a measure of international security because nations were reluctant to disturb the balance of power. -
1914 Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
In June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Throne, visited the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. As the royal entourage drove through the city, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip stepped from the crowd and shot the Archduke and his wife Sophie. Princip was a member of the Black Hand, an orginazation promoting Serbian nationalism. -
Schlieffen Plan
On August 3, 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, following a strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan. This plan called for a holding action against Russia, combined with a quick drive through Belgium to Paris: after France had fallen, the two German armies would defeat Russia. -
Sinking of British liner Lusitania
One of the worst disasters occurred on May 7, 1915, when a U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland. Of the 1.198 persons lost, 128 were Americans. The Germans defended their action on the grounds that the liner carried ammunition. Despite Germany's explanation, Americans became outraged with Germany because of its loss of life. American public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers. -
Sinking of British liner Arabic
Three months later, in August 1915, a U-boat sank another British liner, the Arabic, drowning two americans. Again the United States protested, and this time Germany agreed not to sink anymore passanger ships. But in March 1916 Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed french passanger steamer, the Sussex -
Sinking of the French Passanger liner Sussex
In March 1916 Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed French passanger steamer, the sussex. The Sussex sank, and about 80 passangers, including Americans, were killed or injured. Once again the United States warned that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed its tactics. -
Battle of Somme
During the First Battle of Somme which began on July 1, 1916 and lasted until Mid-November the British suffered 60,000 casualties the first day alone. Final casualties totaled about 1.2 million, yet only about 7 miles of ground changed hands. This bloody trench warfare, in which armies fouight for mere yards of ground, continued for over three years. -
Zimmerman Note
First was the Zimmerman note, a telegram from German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents. the telgram proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico and promised that if war with the United States broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering "lost in territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. -
Selective Service Act of 1917
The act required men to register with the Government in order to be randomly selected for military service. -
Second Battle of Marne
U.S. troops played a major role in throwing back German attacks at Chateau and Balleau wood. In July and August, they helped win the Second Battle of Marne. -
War Industries Board
The main regulatory body was the War Industries Board(WIB). It was established in 1917 and reorganzined in 1918 under the leadership of Bernard M. Baruch, a prosperous businessman. The board encouraged companies to use mass production techniques to increase effeciency. It also rged them to eliminate waste by standardizing products for instance, by making only 5 colors of typewriter ribbons instead of 150. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
In June 1917 Congress passed the Espionage Act, and May 1918 it passed the Sedition Act. Under the Espionage and Sedition acts a person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfereing with the war effort or for saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government war effort. -
Convoy System
American Admiral William Sims convinced the Birtish to try the Convoy System, in which heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in groups. -
Cease fire and armistice
Germany agreed to cease fire and signed the Armistice, or truce, that ended the war. -
Food Administration
To help produce and conserve food, Wilson set up the Food Admisistration under Herbert Hoover. Instead of rationing food, he called on people to follow the "gospel of the clean plate" -
Commitee on Public Information
To popularize the war, the government set up the nations first propaganda agency, the commitee on public information. Propaganda is kind of biased communication designed to influence peoples thoughts and actions. -
Austria-Hungary surrenders to the Allies
On November 3, 1918, Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies. That same day, German sailors mutinied against government authority. -
Establishment of German Republic
On November 9, socialist leaders in capital, Berlin, established a German Republic. The kaiser gave up the throne.
