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The Washington Post describes the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Empires heir; Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed by Serbian nationalist and Black Hand member, Gavrilo Princip. This act spiralled a series of events that lead to a total war in Europe. Countries aligned with their allies and declared war on some who had yet to enter the fray.
http://vimyridgehistory.com/kit-1/war-breaks/precursors-to-war/assassination/#gallery/8e0c4b8c5ce6dbca08c1577eaf3e96ae/5339 -
After the murder of Archduke Ferdinand, countries quickly declared war with one another. Austria declared war on Serbia, Russia declares war on Austria so it can aid Serbia, Germany comes to the aid of Austria by declaring war on Russia and France. England then follows up with a war declaration on Germany.
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/digitized-books/world-war-i-declarations/foreign.php -
President Woodrow Wilson declares neutrality after war breaks out in Europe. This allowed the US to keep trade agreements with all nations involved without getting involved in a European problem. The US neutrality for economic gain would directly lead to the eventual conundrums that would bring the United States into the tail end of the war.
https://iowaculture.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets/world-war-i-evaluating-americas-role-global/neutrality-proclamation -
A battle fought between Germany and Russia, the Battle of Tannenberg resulted in Germany completely decimating Russia and leading to the Russian general, Alexander Samsonov, to commit suicide. This gave the Germans an early victory, but not a decisive enough one to be worth while, because Russians were still in Prussia.
http://general-history.com/the-battle-of-tannenberg/ -
Turkey enters the war on the side of the Central Powers. After joining the Turks assist Germany in the bombing of Russia. This act and allegiance prompts Russia to declare war on Turkey. The other Allies quickly followed suit. This event lead to the shaping of what would be the final main players (minus the US) of the war.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Ottoman_Empire_during_World_War_I -
The Lusitania, a British passenger ship was shot and sank by German Submarines. The sinking killed 1,198 people, 128 of which were American. Germans sank the ship over information they had received about it carrying munitions that were meant for British soldiers. The sinking resulted in a warning from the United States in hopes for Germany to avoid any further confrontation with the neutral nation.
https://spartacus-educational.com/ExamFWWU6.htm -
In a telegram intercepted by the British and later given to the United States, The German foreign minister offers to assist Mexico in recovering Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico if they were to start a border war with the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram#/media/File:Zimmermann_Telegram_as_Received_by_the_German_Ambassador_to_Mexico_-_NARA_-_302025.jpg -
After multiple ships being sunk by German U-boats ,and the Zimmerman Telegram, the United States officially declares war on Germany. After making it through the House and Senate, the US joins the Allies. Upon joining the US seeks volunteers with a draft on the horizon
https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/alabama-wwi-blog/2146-alabama-s-response-s-to-u-s-entry-into-world-war-i.html -
Several months after the official armistice, the Treaty of Versailles took place. The treaty placed guilt for the war on Germany and forced them into disarmament and the need to pay reparations to selected countries. The total cost for reparations in today's money is equal to $442 billion. Almost none of Woodrow Wilson's 14 points were accepted prior to the treaty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles#/media/File:Treaty_of_Versailles,_English_version.jpg
