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The Selective Service Act
By registering all eligible men, Selective Service ensures a fair and equitable draft, if ever required. Exemptions and deferments apply only in the event of a draft. -
The Election of President Woodrow Wilson
His slogan was "He kept us out of war." Woodrow Wilson was elected president in 1912 after serving only two years as governor of New Jersey. President of Princeton University from 1902 until his election as New Jersey governor, Wilson succeeded in his campaigns for both governor and president with significant aid from practical political organizers. -
America Proclaims Neutrality in World War I
The American economy boomed during the period of neutrality. The war created a tremendous demand for American industrial and agricultural products. Both sides placed orders with U.S. companies but British blockades of German ports and their confiscation of cargoes limited the amount that reached Germany. -
The Battle of the Marne
The First Battle of the Marne marked the end of the German sweep into France and the beginning of the trench warfare that was to characterize World War One. Took place on September 5-12, 1914 -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
The sinking of RMS Lusitania caused international outrage and helped turn public opinion against Germany, particularly in the then-neutral United States. Of the 1,200 people killed, 128 were American citizens. But the incident did not immediately bring the United States into the war. -
The Battle of the Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was strategically important in the First World War. France repelled the German assault, saving the city of Verdun and winning a major morale boost. This battle is frequently called the longest battle in history, as it lasted for many months. -
The Sussex Incident
The attack prompted a U.S. threat to sever diplomatic relations. The German government responded with the so-called Sussex pledge (May 4, 1916), agreeing to give adequate warning before sinking merchant and passenger ships and to provide for the safety of passengers and crew. -
The Battle of the Somme
A more professional and effective army emerged from the battle. And the tactics developed there, including the use of tanks and creeping barrages, laid some of the foundations of the Allies' successes in 1918. The Somme also succeeded in relieving the pressure on the French at Verdun. -
The Re-Election of President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was elected president in 1912 after serving only two years as governor of New Jersey. President of Princeton University from 1902 until his election as New Jersey governor, Wilson succeeded in his campaigns for both governor and president with significant aid from practical political organizers. -
The Interception of the Zimmerman Telegram
The telegram further conveyed Germany's intentions should America enter the war. That included urging Mexico to join Germany in declaring war against the United States. In exchange, Germany committed to assist Mexico in regaining its lost territories of Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. -
The Declaration of New Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by Germany
Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917, together with the Zimmerman Telegram, brought American entry into World War I on the British side. -
The United States Enters World War I
The entry of the United States was the turning point of the war, because it made the eventual defeat of Germany possible. It had been foreseen in 1916 that if the United States went to war, the Allies' military effort against Germany would be upheld by U.S. supplies and by enormous extensions of credit. -
The Espionage Act
The Espionage Act broadly sought to crack down on wartime activities considered dangerous or disloyal, including attempts to acquire defense-related information with the intent to harm the United States, or acquire code and signal books, photographs, blueprints, and other such documents with the intention of passing. -
The Landing of the American Expeditionary Force in France
The arrival of the American troops acted as a much-needed morale boost for the war-weary Allied soldiers. By the spring of 1918, they were arriving on the Western Front in large numbers. -
The Beginning of the Spanish Flu Epidemic
World War I claimed an estimated 16 million lives. The influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million people. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history. -
The Fourteen Points by President Wilson
Why was the Fourteen Points important? The Fourteen Points hoped to end World War I under the philosophy of "Peace Without Victory," meaning no one country won the war. Under the Fourteen Points, Wilson hoped to create lasting world peace and avoid future large-scale wars. -
Russia Pulls Out of World War I
Why did Russia leave World War I? Russia left WW1 because it was in the interest of Russian Communists (Bolsheviks) who took power in November 1917. The Bolsheviks' priority was to win a civil war against their domestic opponents, not to fight in WW1. They also thought that Germany would soon lose the war in any case. -
The Passing of the Sedition Act
Passed in preparation for an anticipated war with France, the Alien and Sedition Acts tightened restrictions on foreign-born Americans and limited speech critical of the government. In 1798, the United States stood on the brink of war with France.Jul 27, 2023 -
The Battle of Argonne Forest
It was one of the attacks that brought an end to the War and was fought from September 26 – November 11, 1918, when the Armistice was signed. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest operation of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I, with over a million American soldiers participating.Apr 4, 2023 -
Armistice Day Ends World War I
Armistice on the Western Front. On Nov. 11, 1918, after more than four years of horrific fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front fell silent. Although fighting continued elsewhere, the armistice between Germany and the Allies was the first step to ending World War I. -
The Paris Peace Conference & Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, one of several treaties, held Germany responsible for the war, leading to reparations and territorial losses. The treaty's harsh terms are often linked to the rise of World War II. The conference also led to the creation of the League of Nations and a major redrawing of Europe's map. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The Outbreak of WWI
On the same day, Sir Thomas Barclay of England predicts the danger of war in central Europe is greatly lessened by the assassination. Austria-Hungary issues an ultimatum to Serbia. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. The declaration of war sets off a series of cascading declarations that lead to World War I.