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Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Arch duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were heading to Sarajevo in Bosnia. When they arrived, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. This lead to Austrians targeting Serbia. -
US Declares its neutrality
Britain declares war on Germany, binding all Dominions. The US chose to stay neutral in the situation. President Wilson was concerned that entering the war would end the Progressive reforms that had been won. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German U-Boat targets Lusitania because they considered it was a British ship, and therefore an "enemy ship." The ship sank and killed 1,195 people, including 128 Americans. It strained relations between the United States and Germany and led to a public debate over the US remaining neutral. It eventually set off a chain reaction that led the US to enter WW1. -
Battle of Verdun
The Germans had advnced towards the Verdun citadel and was stopped, resulting in 200,000 German fatalities and 185,000 French fatalities. American volunteers served as soldiers, fighter pilots, and ambulance drivers to help the French. -
Re-Election
Presidential elections were held on this day. American voters re-elect President Woodrow Wilson. He was known for the slogan, "He kept us out of war." -
Zimmerman Telegram
The British intercepted and decrypted a telegram between Germany and Mexico. Germany wanted Mexico to occupy the United States so they would not get involved in the war. Britain made this public and immediately passed it to the US. This is one of the main reasons the US got involved in WW1. -
The United States Declares War on Germany
American president Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany. The declaration of war was a response to the submarine war that Germany had been waging on its enemies since January 1917. -
The first American troops land in France
The first 14,000 troops landed in France. The landing site was kept a secret to avoid German submarines. The American soldiers were not ready to fight the Western Front. -
Sedition Act
The US Congress passed the Sedition Act legislation that was designed to punish those who spoke out against war effort, the government or the military. This was aimed at anti-war activists, pacifists, and socialists. -
Armistice of 1918 was signed
The Armistice of 1918 was signed between the Allied nations and Germany, ending WW1. -
Treaty of Versailles was signed
This formally ended WW1. The treaty required Germany to pay respirations to the Allied countries, disarm themselves, give up its overseas colonies, lose territory, limit its navy, and outlaw submarines.