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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, by Gavrilo Princep, instigated the beginning of World War I. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
On July 28, 1914, Austria- Hungary declares war on Serbia for killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand. They executed this assassination in hope of bringing down the Austro-Hungarian empire and reuniting the Slavic people who wanted independence. Austria- Hungary became angry and declared war on Serbia. -
First Use of Gas as a Weapon by the Germans
The invention of the poisonous gas by the Germans was deadly. It was made with chlorine and phosgene. It killed 69 British soldiers in the first battle. Germans created a gas mask and other countries imitated the idea. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The US declared that any American citizen killed or injured in a U-Boat attack would be blamed as a German responsibility. The Lusitania had weapons aboard, but that was unknown for years during the war. About 128 Americans were killed along with hundreds of other people. A torpedo shot from a U-Boat on May 7, 1915 caused the sinking of the Lusitania. -
Wilson Reelected; pledged American Neutrality
In the election of 1916, Woodrow Wilson was reelected as democratic candidate. He became president again. Pledging for the US to remain neutral in World War I, he expressed his opinions. He only beat republican nominee, Charles Evans Hughes, by about 20 electoral votes. -
Zimmermann Note
In January of 1917, Arthur Zimmermann, a German government employee, sent a telegram to Mexico. The note asked Mexico to become allies with Germany against the US. The British intercepted the telegram and decoded it. After seeing what it said, they sent it to Wilson. He told the American people but they thought it was British propaganda. Wilson believed it and entered the war against Germany. -
US Declares War on Germany
On the 6th of April, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. There was a series of events that led up to this. First, Germany intercepted lots of trade. Next, the US was angered by the sinking of "The Lusitania" with all of the American citizens injured or killed in the U-Boat attack. Then, Germany started unrestricted submarine warfare. Finally, the Zimmermann Note drew the United States into war. Days later, President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. -
Bolsheviks Led by Lenin Overthrow Russian Government
Near the end of World War I, in 1917, the Bolsheviks were angry with the Russian government which caused them to revolt. Vladimir Lenin eventually led the Bolsheviks and helped to overthrow the government. Then, Czar Nicholas II stepped down from his throne and some of the Russian people became upset. The revolt and anger caused a revolution or a civil war in Russia. -
War Ends
In 1918, Germany asked President Woodrow Wilson for an armistice. Wilson agreed to this only if Germany removed their troops from Belgium and other countries around the world. Wilson's agreement also insisted that Germany give up the territories they conquered during the war. Eventually, the countries involved in the war met up to discuss the Treaty of Versailles. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. The Allied Powers and Germany signed it. Germany agreed to disarm their troops, pay reparations, and give up some of the territory they gained. One big thing Germany did was take responsibility for the war and it eventually angered them so much that it led to World War II. Prior to the treaty, Germany asked President Wilson for an armistice in the war. The US agreed only if Germany would except Wilson's 14 points.
