WORLD WAR I TIMELINE

JUNE 1914

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
• Gavrilo Princip was part of a Serbian Nationalist group called the "Black Hand"
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and wanted to prevent Slavic nationalism
• Knew an attack might trigger war with Russia, so they asked Germany to help
• Russia was supported by France

MAY 1915

• German submarine sank a British passenger ship
• Killed 1,200 passengers, 128 Americans
• Sussex was torpedoed and Americans on board were injured
• Wilson's advisors wanted him to break off diplomatic relations with Germany
• Wilson issued a last warning to Germany and created the Sussex Pledge

JANUARY 1917

• German official sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico
• Asked him to make an offer to the Mexican gov. to ally with Germany in a war with US
• British intelligence intercepted telegram

FEBRUARY 1917

• Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare
• U-boats sank all ships on sight
• German U-boats sank 6 American ships
• Pushed the US to declare war on Germany

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