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Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
In Sarajevo, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated. He was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This led to the emperor of Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, since they were responsible for the death of Ferdinand and his wife. -
World War I Begins
With the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria-Hungary, the alliances that had been formed were mobilized and ready to fight. When Austria invaded Serbia, Russia was ready to come to Serbia's aid. Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg, which were both neutral, which led to Britian declaring war on Germany. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
A German submarine sank the Lusitania, because they thought the ship was carrying ammunition. It sank within 18 minutes, and over 1,100 people died, including Americans. Following the sinking of the Lusitania, 3 more ships were sunk. -
The Zimmerman Note
The Zimmerman Note was a telegram between the Germans and the German minister in Mexico. In it, the Germans offered up the United States to Mexico in exchange for them fighting with the Germans. The British intercepted the note, and gave it to President Wilson. He shortly thereafter declared war on Germany. -
America Joins the War
After the British intercepted the Zimmerman Note, they gave it to President Wilson. Americans were already angry with Germany, and this just incited the United States to move toward war. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. Congress declared war on Germany the allies that supported them. Americans saw Germany as an evil that needed to be stopped. -
Selective Service Act is passed in the United States
The Selective Service Act was passed to help build the U.S. Forces in the war. It stated that all men age 21 to 30 were obligated to register with the military. Over 2 million men were drafted by the end of World War I. -
American Expeditionary Forces land in France
This group of soldiers was lead by John J. Pershing. He believed that the U.S. troops should be well trained before going to Europe to fight. By the end of 1917, only about 14,000 soldiers were in Europe, but by spring of 1918, there were over one million. -
President Wilson announces 14 points to World Peace
President Woodrow Wilson came up with a plan that he thought could bring about world peace. He really believed in being neutral when it came to war in other countries. He wanted every nation in the world to have an equal voice, and he proposed a League of Nations to help settle world conflicts peacefully. -
Germans Stopped in Second Battle of the Marne
The Germans had destroyed the town of Chateau-Thierry, and had taken it over. It took five weeks for the American Expeditionary Forces and the French to stop them. This was a major turning point in the war. -
At the Hindenberg Line, Germans are Stopped by Allied Troops
The Hindenberg Line was the German's last line of defense on the front. It was an area that was heavily fortified with barbed wire and was 6,000 yards deep. It had weaknesses though, and the Allied forces took advantage of that fact. This was the last month of fighting in the war. -
The War Ends
Many German soldiers had begun to desert or refuse to fight a losing battle. Germany became a republic. At 11:00, an Armistice is signed between Germany and the Allies, and a ceasefire was honored. -
Treaty of Versailles
England, France and the United States met in Versailles to negotiate the treaty, and Germany was not invited. The British and the French wanted payment for what they had endured in the war, and also wanted revenge. The details of the treaty took six months to be decided on. The treaty made Germany pay and lose land, and they vowed to not uphold the agreement.
