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Period: to
World War I and Beyond
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German U-boat sinks the Lusitania. They believed it was carrying contraband from the US to Great Britain. 1,198 civilians, including 128 Americans die. -
President Wilson Warns Germany
US President Wilson publicly warns Germany not to continue unrestricted submarine warfare policies -
Woodrow Wilson Re-elected
Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States with campaign slogan: "He kept us out of the war" -
Zimmerman Note
Germany sends a telegram to Mexico which is intercepted and decoded by the British. In it, Germany asks Mexico to attack the US in return for land lost to the US in the Mexican American War when World War I is over. -
Germans Resume Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
German U-boats resume unrestricted submarine warfare sinking 4 American merchant ships without warning, Helps lead America to declare war on Germany. -
US Declares War
President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war with Imperial Germany. -
Selective Service Act
The US Congress passes a law allowing the government to draft men into the military. -
US Forces Land in France
The American Expeditionary Force lands in France. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovisk
Russia signs an armistice with Germany pulling out of the war. -
Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson issues his Fourteen Points which include freedom of the seas, open diplomacy and a League of Nations. -
Armistice
At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign and Armistice. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles is signed by Germany in which Germany is punished for World War I by demilitarization and a requirement to pay billions in war reparations. The treaty also includes the League of Nations. -
Failure of US to Ratify Treaty of Versailles
The US Senate fails to ratify the Treaty of Versailles because it fears membership in the League of Nations would violate the Constitution by stripping the Senate of the power to declare war. -
Nineteenth Amendment Ratified
The US ratifies the Nineteenth Amendment which grants women the right to vote.
