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Battle of Marne
Germany wanted to reach France, but in order to do that they had to go through Belgium. The Belgians held out for almost three weeks. This gave Britain and France time to react to this catastrophe. When the Germans finally defeated the Belgians, they went on to Paris, France. The French and the British met the Germans at the Marne River. Eventually they did stop the German advance, but the battle made it crystal clear that no side would win this war quickly or easily. -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
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 of old tensions in Europe and started WWI. -
Sinking of the Lustiana
The Sinking of the Lustiana was caused by Germans because they would sink any vessels that entered or left British ports even when President Wilson told the Germans would be held responsible for any Americans lives lost caused by the German attacks. The Germans ingored this. Sadly a German U-boat torpedoed the Lustiana and 128 Americans died. This angered America tremendously. -
The Sussex Pledge
A few months after the Sinking of the Lustiana, a German U-boat attacked an unarmed French passenger ship called the Sussex. Americans endured injures and Germany was starting to fear that the angry Americans would enter the war against Germany. To help calm the anger of Americans, Germany offered money to the people who were injured on the sussex and promised to warn all passenger vessels and neutral ships before firing and attacking. This was known as the Sussex pledge. -
The Zimmerman Note
A few weeks after the Germans announced that they would submerge any vessels sailing to the Allied ports, a secret telegram that was headed to Mexico was interfired with by British agents. It was sent by Aruthur Zimmerman, a German forigen minister. The Telegram offered a german allince with Mexico against the U.S. if the Americans ebtered the war. This outraged many Americans not helping Germnays case aginst America at all. -
US enters WWI
President Wilson pronounced the United States couldn't remain neutral. Wilson asked Congress for war against Germany. Congress decided that they needed to defend America, its honor, and to remain their world power. Congress passed a declaration of war that Wilson then signed. -
Treaty of Versailles
Everyone in The Big Four except Wilson wanted revenge against Germany when they surrendered. In the end Wilson had to give in though. On June 28,1919 Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles made sure that Germany had to pay the Allies lots and lots of money, to disarm completely, give up their overseas colonies and a bit of territory in Europe, and Germany had to accept full responsibility for the conflict. With the treaty signed, the War was over. -
Senate Rejects League of Nations
During March 1920, the Senate voted on the treaty and it rejected the Treaty of Versatiles. In 1921 the U.S. signed a different peace treaty with each of the Central Powers. The U.S. never did join the League of Nations.
