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The assassintation of Achduke Franz Ferdinand
While visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist group called "The Black Hand", a group of nationalists wanting Serbia and Bosnia's independence from Austria-Hungary. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand created the "spark" which started WWI. -
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World War I
A war between the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia). Which started from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914), and ended with the Treaty of Versailles (1919). -
U-boats (Submarines)
U-boats were used by the Germans to weaken England by cutting off their supply (attacked merchant ships) and attacking their warships. U-boats were also unleashed to attack all ships in British Waters (unrestricted submarine warfare), including the Pathfinder (first ship to be sunk) and the Lusitania. By the end of 1917, 5500 people had died, and 112 ships had been destroyed. -
Chemical Weapons
Chemical weapons, such as Chlorine gas was first introduced in WWI during the Second Battle of Ypres, and was first used by the Germans. Soldiers that came in contact with chlorine gas died a slow death from asphyxiation (lack of oxygen), and could not be successfully treated. -
Nellie McClung
Nellie McClung fought for women's voting rights and played the lead role in the campaign to defeat Manitoba premier Rodmond Roblin's conservative government (campaign for women's rights). In the 1920's she fought and won the "Person's case" and women in Canada were allowed to vote. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme took place in Verdun from July 1st to November 18th in 1916, and was a battle of the Germans versus the French and British, the British were planning to advance eastward onto German lines easily, but were met by terrible fire from rifles and artillery. By the end of the battle both sides lost more than 60,000 casualties and allies gained 545 square kilometres of land. -
The Lusitania
In 1917, the Lusitania was a British passenger ship travelling from New York that sunk off the coast of Ireland from a torpedo sent from a German u-boat. As a result, 1200 died, including 128 American women and children, causing America to declare war on Germany. -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place in Northern France, near Arras between the British empire and the German empire. Vimy Ridge lead the "creeping barrage" technique which involved soldiers using smoke screen to protect themselves from fired shells and being able to move forward. By the end of the battle the Canadians prevailed against the Germans. -
Conscription
Men were forced to enlist in the army by Robert Borden (prime minister of Canada) because Canada was in need for soldiers and there weren't enough volunteers to replace the soldiers they had lost. Almost all French Canadians were against conscription because they felt that lack of soldiers was Britain's problem instead of Canada's. -
The Battle of Paschendaele
The battle of Paschendaele took place East of Ypres in mid October, between the Germans and the allies. The allies had planned to drive the Germans away essential channel ports and eliminate u-boat bases on the coast. By the end of the battle the British lost 275,000 casualties and the Germans had lost 220,000 casualties. 16,000 Canadians had died. -
Treaty of Versailles
Five years from when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. By signing the treaty, Germany would take full responsibility for the war and agree to conditions, such as paying $7 billion in reparations to help repair damage caused during the war. Signing the treaty had caused Germany had felt humiliated.
