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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand instigated the beginning of World War I. -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
The Slavic nationalists in the Balkan Peninsula wanted to unite all Slavic peoples and Serbia supported this effort. Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian Nationalist's group, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was next in line to the throne of Austria-Hungary, to bring down the Austro-Hungarian empire. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia. They gave Serbia a list of demands, which Serbia refused. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. -
First Use of Gas as a Weapon by the Germans
As new deadly weapons were introduced during the war, the Germans started using poison gas as a weapon in April, 1915. this gas would kill or seriously injure anyone who breathed it. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British passenger ship called the Lusitania near the coast of Ireland. More than 1000 people were killed, including 128 Americans. This angered the American public. -
Wilson Reelected; Pledged American Neutrality
"He Kept Us Out of War" was the campaign slogan used by the Democrats during the 1916 election between Woodrow Wilson and Charles Evans Hughes. Wilson won, but only narrowly. -
U.S. declares war
After all the U-boat attacks, the Russian revolution, and the interception of the Zimmermann note, America was being pushed into joining the war. Then, four American merchant were attacked and sunk by the Germans. President Wilson decided that they could no longer remain neutral. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Congress passed the declaration of war on April 6. -
Zimmerman Note
British intelligence intercepted a telegram sent by a foreign German minister named Arthur Zimmermann. This telegram was going to be sent to Mexico. It suggested an alliance against the U.S. in case they entered the war. This angered the Americans and sent a new wave of anti-German feeling. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government
After Nicholas II gave up his throne as czar in Russia's first revolution, a new government replaced him. They supported the war, but they were not able to solve Russia's many serious problems, such as food shortages. In November, 1917, riots broke out over this government's handling of the food and fuel shortages. A group called the Bolsheviks overthrew this government. It was led by Vladimir Lenin. -
War ends
Germany was struggling as the U.S. had entered the war and won many battles. Also, Germany's allies were not doing so well either. In late 1918, the Ottoman Empire was on the edge of collapse and the Austro-Hungarian Empire had broken apart. In November, 1918, they had both surrendered to the Allies. Germany realized that they didn't have much of a chance of winning the war. On Oct. 4, 1918, the German government asked President Wilson for an armistice. -
Treaty of Versailles
This treaty was signed in Paris. Under this treaty, Germany had to accept full responsibility for the conflict. Also, it had to pay billions of dollars to the Allies, disarm completely, and give up its overseas colonies and some territory in Europe. This treaty carved up the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. It made new nations and restored some old ones.
