World War I

Franz Ferdinand Assassination

Jun 28, 1914

Gavrilo Princep assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife. His assassination sparked the beginning of WWI.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Jul 28, 1914

Ausria-Hungary declares war on Serbia after a Serbian man Gavrilo Princep assassinated the Archduke.

First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans

Apr 22, 1915

The first use of poison gas was by the Germans. Germans solders fired more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial divisions.

Sinking of the Lusitania

May 7, 1915

A German U-Boat torpedoed a British ocean liner called the Lusitania. Over 1000, people died including 128 Americans. The sinking pressured President Wilson to join WWI.

Wilson re-elected; pledged American Neutrality

1916

Wilson pledged to remain neutral throughout WWI. His slogan was "He kept us out of war". This led to Wilson's victory against Charles Evens Hughs in the 1916 election,

Zimmermann Note

1917

Arthur Zimmermann was a German minister who sent a telegram to the German embassy in mexico to fight against America; the Zimmermann note was intercepted by the British. President Wilson was informed and finally asked congress to join the war

U.S. Declares War

1917

Wilson request congress to declare war against Germany

Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government

1917

Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks who overthrew provisional government of Alexander Kerensky. Czar Nicholas and his 5 kids and wife are all executed by the Bolsheviks

War ends

Nov 11, 1918

World War I also known as the great war, ended at 11:00 am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, in 1918 Germany signed the armistice, an agreement for peace and no more fighting..

Treaty of Versailles

Jun 28, 1919

WWI officially ended when Germany signed the treaty of Versailles on June 28 1919.