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Nationalism causes tensions
Nationalism is a form of inflated pride in ones country. People from many European countries became overly confident in their homeland. These people simply believed their country was the best and that no one could beat them. -
Alliances begin to form
The formation of alliances were a major cause of World War I. Alliances caused countries act boldly, and push limits. In other words, leaders knew that if they made a statement or a decision that led to war, the countries they were in an alliance with would have to back them up. -
Countries start to build military power
Countries needed military power to fight in what seemed to be a brewing war, so many nations started crafting new weapons and enlisting more man power. This is an example of imperialism. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated by a Serbian on June 28, 1914. The Archduke of Austria and his Wife were riding in an open car when they were fatally shot. They were shot by a man who wanted an end to the Austrian-Hungarian rule. This is known to be one of the main triggers of World War I. -
Germany's blank check
Following the assassination of the Archduke and wife, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany swears Germany's support to Austria-Hungary in whatever move they decide to make against Serbia. This causes Austria-Hungary to act quickly. -
World War I begins
After Austria-Hungary sent an ultimatum to Serbia, the Serbs were convinced they were going to war. They readied their military and Russia backed them. They declared war on July 28. Not soon after, Russias allies, including Great Britain marched on Austria-Hungary, who was backed by Germany. -
Lusitania sinks
In May of 1915, a German launched torpedo hit a British ship which had both British and American Passengers aboard it. A total of 1,198 people died, including 128 American passengers. This caused America, who had previously remained neutral, to enter the war. -
Germany resumes submarine warfare
Germany originally announced their unrestriced warfare on the British Isle in 1915, but it stopped after the Lusitania sunk. They resumed their unrestricted warfare on any ships that passed through the British Isle in 1917. -
Zimmerman Telegram shocks America
The Zimmerman Telegram was an encrypted message that revealed that Germany was willing to grant Mexico the land they lost from the United States in exchange for Mexico to launch an attack on the United States. This was one of the main triggers that caused President Wilson to declare war. -
War rages on
World War I was a brutal war, with more than 18 million deaths. It marked the start of the downfall of countries like Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. It also caused the economies of many European countries to plummet and made the U.S. one of the leading industrial nations. Even social norms changed due to the fact that women were having to perform jobs the men who were at war left behind. -
United States officially enters World War I
After remaining neutral for three years, President Woodrow Wilson finally decided to declare war. There were many causes of this, some of the main ones include the Zimmerman Telegram and the sinking of the Lusitania. After these events, many Americans favored war over neutrality. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
The Treaty of Versailles impacted countries in different ways. It mainly negatively impacted Germany. Germany took most of the blame for the war. Their overseas colonies were taken from them, they lost major amounts of land, and made large dents in the economy. Germany was ultimately forced to take the blame of the war. This cast guilt over the country. -
Great Depression hits
The Great Depression was the biggest economic crisis our world had faced. Some of the causes include the stock market crash of 1929, major bank failures, American/European economic policies, and environmental issues. -
Hitler gains power
Germany was weak and vulnerable at the time of Hitler's rise. Hitler boasted about his plans for the country and targeted the lower/middle class. The Nazi party rose to power extremely quickly.
