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Franz Ferdinand Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated while visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia. He was next in line for the Austro-Hungarian throne. The killings set off decades old tensions in Europe and started WWI -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because Gavrilo Princip and his group plotted the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand whom was next in line for the Austria-Hungary throne -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
The Germans were the first to use poison gas against allied troops in April. The gas could kill or seriously injure anyone who breathed it. The only way to prevent it is a gas mask. -
The sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915 a German U-Boat torpedoed the British passenger liner named the Lusitania near the coast of Ireland. More than one thousand people died that day. the sinking of the Lusitania angered many Americans and influenced many Americans to war with Germany -
Wilson reelected; pledged American neutrality
President Wilson had long said America should stay out of the war. Most Americans did not argue with him. They did not think the war concern them. -
Zimmermann Note
In January some British agents intercepted a secret telegram known as the Zimmermann Note. The telegram was supposed to be sent to Mexico telling them of an alliance with Mexico against America. This angered Americans and set off a new anti-German vibe. -
US declares war
US declare war on Germany because of 3 reasons. The first one was the sinking of Sussex this was a French passenger ship and several Americans suffered injuries. The second one was the sinking of the Lusitania, one thousand were dead with more than 120 American citizens. Lastly, the Zimmermann Note is was a letter from Germany to Mexico saying of an alliance between the 2 countries against America. This letter was intercepted by a group of British agents -
Bolsheviks, led by Lenin overthrow Russian government
United States were already about to declare war on Germany when in Russia 1917 a revolution took place.The Russian people overthrew there monarchy and set up a provisional government. Now President Wilson could have another reason to go to war with Germany because the new Russian government promised to continue to have war with Germany and democracy. -
War ends
The war almost ended when the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allied Powers. Only a little while later Germany finally realized they could not win this war and they asked for an armistice from President Wilson. Wilson only agreed to a nonmilitary government leaders. Finally Germany agreed to the armistice and on November 11, 1918 the Great War was over. -
Treaty of Versallies
The Allies and Germany signed a treaty. It was called The Treaty of Versallies. It was when Germany had to agree to accept full responsibility for the war. They had to pay the Allies billions of dollars. They also had to give back some territory in Europe and give up all of the Germans oversea colonies. But in the United States the Senate had to ratify this treaty. The U.S senate rejected.
