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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. He was shot by Gavrilo Princip -
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the assassination. With Germany's support, it gave Serbia a list of demands, which Serbia refused. So Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914 -
First use of gas as a weapon by the Germans
These new deadly weapons ,such as the poison gas, caused large numbers of injuries and deaths. This gas could kill or seriously injure anyone who breathe it. Soon the Germans used it against them so much that the Allied troops started using it and they also wore protective gas masks -
Sinking of the Luisitania
The Lusitania was a British Passenger Liner ship heading towards the coast of Ireland that got sank by a German U-boat. This killed thousands of lives and 128 women and children had died from this ship. This sinking of the Lusitania intrigued many more people to fight in the war -
Wilson Reelected; Pledged American Neutrality
As Wilson was Pres. again he wanted America to stay neutral and not get involved with the war -
Zimmerman Note
British agents intercepted a secret telegram sent by the German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman. This telegram was bound for Mexico. It offered a German alliance with Mexico against the U.S in the event the Americans entered the war. The Zimmerman Note angered Americans and set off a new wave of anti-german feeling in the U.S. -
Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrow Russian government
Lenin forms the bolsheviks party to oppose the czar of Russia, Nicholas the II, Russia finally end up joining WWI -
U.S declares war
President Wilson decided the U.S shouldn't remain neutral anymore. So on the evening of April 2nd, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Wilson signed the declaration of war on April 6th 1917 -
War ends
Wilson signes a armistice with Germany to officially end the war -
Treaty of Versailles
The Allies and Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919. Germany had to accept full responsibility for the conflict, pay the Allies billions of dollars, disarm completely, and lastly give up its overseas colonies and some territory in Europe. It also carved up the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. It created some new nations and restored old ones. Border disputes would lead to future conflicts. Wilson also managed to get his League of Nations included in the treaty.
