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In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and declared war, prompting Russia to support Serbia. Germany then backed Austria-Hungary and declared war on Russia and France, invading Belgium in the process, which brought Britain into the conflict. The assassination set off a chain reaction of alliance commitments and military mobilizations that quickly turned a local crisis into World War I. -
The First Battle of the Marne (Sept 1914)/
French and British forces stop the German advance just outside Paris, forcing Germany to retreat and abandon its plan for a quick victory. This battle is important because it prevented France from falling early and led to the stalemate and trench warfare that defined much of World War I. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania (May 1915)/
occurred when a German submarine torpedoed a British passenger ship, killing nearly 1,200 people, including 128 Americans. The attack shocked the world because the ship carried civilians, not just wartime supplies. Its importance lies in how it turned international opinion especially in the United States against Germany and helped push the U.S. closer to entering World War I. -
The Battles of Verdun and the Somme in 1916 were two of World War I’s largest and deadliest clashes, with France and Germany fighting at Verdun and Britain and France attacking Germany at the Somme. Both battles dragged on for months, causing millions of casualties but achieving little territorial gain. They are important because they showed the brutal stalemate of trench warfare and the huge human cost of the war, symbolizing the exhaustion and devastation on all sides -
The U.S. entered World War I in April 1917 after growing frustrated with Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare and angered by the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany urged Mexico to attack the United States. These events pushed the U.S. to join the Allies. America’s entry is important because it brought fresh troops, supplies, and economic power, helping to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. -
John Endicott Bradstreet/1918 letter. In this letter, a soldier named Endicott writes lovingly to his sweetheart, Virginia Watson, describing a pleasant evening swim and dinner but confessing how much he misses her. He mentions waiting for military orders, hopes their future plans will still happen, and asks her to write often. The letter was nice, loving, and sweet.
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Lawrence writes to his sister about receiving her birthday letters and candy, which he enjoyed along with other gifts. He describes life at the army camp, including training with machine guns and gas masks, doing chores, and attending dances and shows. He shares impressions of the Western U.S., from deserts to orchards and towns, and mentions seeing familiar faces from home. He is in good health, satisfied with the food, and sends love to his family. -
1/3/18
Letter to father from Forbes Allan talking about seeing his brother's service in France, like him. The letter said that he has seen his brother multiple times within the last month and is going to see him on Sunday. It will be the last time he gets to see him in France because his division is leaving France. Then he talks about how his day was on New Year's and says it was good. -
Sgt. F. J. Hills’ letter from France, August 19, 1918:
Sgt. Hills writes to his mother and family to reassure them that he’s safe, healthy, and busy with work in France. He thanks them for their letters and mentions hearing from his brother Ralph, who is also serving elsewhere in the country. He describes seeing a movie in a nearby French town, joking that he can’t understand much because he doesn’t know the language well. -
Ralph writes to his mother and family in Friendship, New York, letting them know he has safely completed a three-day move to a new location in France. He says the new area is much nicer, farther inland, warmer, and usually dry, though it rained as soon as they arrived.