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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand instigated the beginning of World War I. Grivolo Princip assassinated him on June 28, 1914. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia.
When Gavrilo Princip assassinated Franz Ferdinand, he hoped to bring down the Austria-Hungary Empire and unite the Slavs. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination. With Germany's help, Austria-Hungary gave a list of demands to Serbia. Serbia refused, which caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Spain. -
Germans Use a Gas Weapon
When new weapons were introduced on the battlefield, they caused great quantities of injuries and deaths. The Germans first used poison gas against the Allies in April 1915. The gas could kill or injure anyone who breathed it. It was described by a British officer:
"They fought with their terror, running blindly in the gas cloud, and dropping in agony. -
Wilson was Reelected and Pledged American Neutrality
Before President Wilson's first term ended, he hoped to stay out of the war. Some Americans saw the military buildup as a prelude to the Americans entering the war. The Democrats' slogan for 1916 was "He Kept Us Out of War." Wilson only barely defeated the Republican candidate, Charles Evans Hughes. -
The Lusitania Sinks
On May 7, 1915, a U-Boat torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger boat near Ireland. The captain claimed:
"I saw a torpedo speeding toward us, and immediately I tried to change our course, but was unable to maneuver out of the wary. There was terrible impact as the torpedo struck the starboard side of the vessel, and a second torpedo followed almost immediately."
More than 1,000 men died. 128 were Americans. The sinking angered the U.S. We learned that the Lusitania had carried war supplies. -
The Zimmermann Note
Arthur Zimmermann, a German citizen, sent a telegram to the German Embassy in Mexico. In this message he encouraged the Mexican government to invade Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada. His idea was to distract America from The Great War. The British intercepted and decoded the telegram, and sent it to President Wilson. At first the American people didn't believe that is was true, and that is was just a distraction. Those beliefs changed when Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. -
U.S. Declares War
Wilson decided that the U.S. had to fight. On April 2, 1917, he asked Congress to declare war. Congress decided that if the U.S. wanted to remain strong they had to declare war. The U. S. entered on April 6. The United States had to mobilize. On May 18 Congress set up a draft. 24 million men signed up. 2 million signed up on their own terms. Women enlisted in non-combat roles. 300,000 African Americans joined the war. Among the 140,000 African American soldiers sent to Europe, 40,000 fought. -
The Russian Revolution is Led by Lenin
Riots quickly broke out in the Russian government. The Bolsheviks overthrew the government.Led by Vladimir Lenin, they wanted to pull out of the war so they could focus on problems in the country.In March Vlad Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. In the treaty, Russia gave land to Germany. This allowed the Germans to move troops. -
The Great War Ends
Germany asked for a treaty on Oct. 4, 1918. Wilson listed conditions to giving them a treaty. Germany must end fighting and leave Belgium and France. Wilson would only deal with non-military government leaders. Before Germany agreed there was uprise in Germany. The German kaiser stepped down. The new leaders agreed to Wilson's treaty. The armistice began on Nov. 11, 1918. Germany withdrew the military west of the Rhine River and its fleet to the Baltic Sea, and surrendered military equipment. -
Treaty of Versailles
Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. Germany would take responsibility. It would pay the Allies money. It would end the war and give up territory. Wilson gave the treaty to the Senate. Wilson might have gotten permission if not for Henry Lodge. Lodge delayed the vote so sides could prove their point. He then proposed reservations to the treaty. In March the Senate voted on Lodge's treaty and rejected the Treaty of Versailles.
