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Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
A teenage Serbian nationalist gunned down Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie. Next in line for the Austro-Hungarian throne, his death quickly set off a chain reaction of events culminating in the outbreak of World War I. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
German boats shoot down the Lusitania, sinking the ship and killing many American and British passengers on it. This is one of the major events that started the war. -
Wilson Urges Neutrality
In a public appeal, Wilson announced that the United States "must be neutral in fact as well as in name" and "impartial in thought as well as in action. -
Zimmerman Note
This was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the German Foreign Office in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico in the prior event of the United States entering World War I against Germany. The United States intercepted the letter. -
America Declares War
America declares war on Germany -
American Troops Enter Europe
U.S. enters Europe on April 6th, 1917 to help fight. -
Creation of the CPI
Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to promote the war domestically while publicizing American war aims abroad. -
Selective Service Act
This act authorized the United States federal government to raise a national army for service in World War I through conscription. -
Espionage Act
This act made it a crime for any person to convey information intended to interfere with the U.S. armed forces to help the country’s enemies. -
Wilson's 14 Points
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. -
Second Battle of Marne
Taking place near the Marne River in the Champagne region of France, the Germans begin what would be their final offensive push of World War I. -
Paris Peace Conference
On this day in Paris, France, some of the most powerful people in the world meet to begin the long, complicated negotiations that would officially mark the end of the First World War. -
Rejection of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the formal peace treaty that ended World War I between the Allies and Germany. It included a provision, created by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, for the creation of an international body called the League of Nations. Congress rejected this treaty especially because of the League of Nations, they rejected it because they felt like we were giving up too much power. -
German Surrender in Compiegne, France
The armistice was signed at 18:36 near Compiègne, France, by officials of Nazi Germany and the French Third Republic.