-
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie was the first domino to fall causing the war. The Austria-Hungary government viewed the assassination as an attack on the country and immediately declared war on Serbia. -
Wilson Urges Neutrality
In Wilson's neutrality speech, he called for Americans to be "impartial in thought as well as action." President Wilson believed that because of all the nationalities that made up the country, we should remain neutral and not fight in the war. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
German torpedoes caused the British passenger ship believed to be smuggling arms to sink in May of 1915. 1,198 people were killed, including 128 Americans. The American deaths put pressure on President Wilson to join the war. -
Zimmerman Note
In January of 1917, British intelligence intercepted and deciphered the Zimmerman note. In the note, the German ambassador was instructed to give a hefty amount of financial aid to Mexico on the terms that they would ally with the Germans. On February 24, 1917, the United States was given the Zimmermann telegram by the British. The telegram was then published in the newspapers in March. This note swayed public opinion so much it was only a month later that the U.S. entered WWI. -
America Declares War
President Woodrow Wilson called a special session of Congress for a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, 1917 following the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmermann Telegram. -
Creation of the CPI
The Committee on Public Information was created by Wilson to promote the war at home through media and propaganda. -
American Troops Enter Europe
American troops entered Europe in May of 1917, a month after Wilson's declaration of war. -
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act was the first official draft in the United States. The act called for all men between the ages of 21 to 30 to register to potentially be selected to join the military. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act has been amended numerous times over the years during times of war. It was passed on June 15, 1917, making it illegal to write or speak anything critical of American involvement in the war. -
Wilson’s 14 Points
Wilson's 14 points were his principles for peace to be used for peace negotiations to end World War I. -
Second Battle of Marne
The last major German offensive on the Western Front during the war lasted from the 15th of July until the 6th of August. The Germans were defeated by the Americans and French who brought hundreds of tanks to the fight. -
German Surrender in Compiegne, France
The Armistice of Compiègne was the document signed to end the fighting on the European Western Front. The document was put into action on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. -
Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference, or the Versailles Peace Conference, was the meeting of the Allies following their winning of World War I. It was put in order to set the peace terms for the defeated countries. -
Rejection of the Treaty of Versailles
Britain and France wanted to punish Germany, which was a key point of the treaty signed. The United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles and we did not join the League of Nations. Many Americans didn't want to punish Germany and others wanted to go back to being isolationist.
