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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand- June 28, 1914
Ferdinand was the future emperor of the Austro Hungarian empire which Gavrilo Princip, his assassin saw him as the oppressor of Serbian people. -
Great War begins- June 28, 1914
Britain, France, Ireland, and Russia were part of an alliance called the Triple Entente, while Germany aligned itself with Austria-Hungary – known as the Central Powers. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28th June 1914 triggered a chain of events that resulted in World War 1. -
Kaiser declares “open season” on ships- February 4, 1915
Germany began to look to its dangerous U-boat submarines as its best hope at sea. all merchant ships, including those from neutral countries, were liable to be sunk without warning. -
Lusitania sank- May 7, 1915
Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and sunk the US ship thought to be carrying supplies to aid Britain and Ireland. -
Battle of the Somme- July 1, 1916 - November 18, 1916
A battle fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. -
Wilson re-elected- November 7, 1916
Woodrow Wilson became the first Democratic president since Andrew Jackson to be elected to two consecutive terms. -
Zimmerman note intercepted- March 1, 1917
Germany promised financial aid to Mexico if they became their ally against America if ever needed. -
US declares war on Germany- April 2, 1917
The US was upset because Germany kept sinking their ships and killing their people with no reason. Also the Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted, and it was found out that Germany was trying to ally with Mexico in case of war. -
Selective Service Act- May 18, 1917
The act required all men in the US between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service. -
Convoy system- May 24, 1917
Says for ships to sail in groups, with or without naval support, to provide mutual protection. -
Espionage Age passed- June 15, 1917
Made it a crime for any person to convey information intended to interfere with the U.S. armed forces prosecution of the war effort or to promote the success of the country's enemies. -
Flu Epidemic- January 1918 - December 1920
Killed more people than World War I at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. -
Fourteen Points speech- January 8, 1918
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- March 3, 1918
Lenin wanted to concentrate on building up a communist state and wanted to pull Russia out of the war. -
Sedition Act passed- May 16, 1918
Continued Espionage Act and made it a crime to "willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of the Government of the United States” -
Germany signs Armistice- November 11, 1918
World War I came to an end following the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany that called for a ceasefire effective at 11 a.m.– it was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
