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Kaiser declares "open season" on ships
Germany uses U boats to sink ships. -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The assassination led directly to WWI, when Austria-Hungary subsequently issued an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia, which was partially rejected. -
Great War Begins
The trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary -
Lusitania sank
Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom which had implemented a naval blockade of Germany. -
Battle of the Somme
French commanders diverted many of the divisions intended for the Somme and the "supporting" attack by the British became the principal effort. -
Wilson re-elected
The 33rd quadrennial presidential election -
Zimmerman note intercepted
Instructed the ambassador, Count Johann von Bernstorff, to offer significant financial aid to Mexico if it agreed to enter any future U.S-German conflict as a German ally. -
Selective Service Act
authorized the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War I through conscription. -
Convoy system
All merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean would travel in groups under the protection of the British -
Espionage Age passed
The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law passed on June 15, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entry into World War I. -
Flu Epidemic
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I. -
Fourteen Points Speech
The Fourteen Points was a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I. -
Russia pulls out of the war
the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia and the Central Powers that ended Russia's participation in WWI. -
Sedition act passed
an Act of the United States Congress that extended the Espionage Act of 1917 -
Germany signs Armistic
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their last opponent, Germany. -
US declares war on Germany
Four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States declaration of war against the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany declared war against the United States, in response.
