Monday, Febuary 9

June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, Russia war started when Bosnian assasinates archduke Ferdinand
- Austria declares war
Europe is divided into two camps by treaties
- Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy are the triple alliance (Italy eventually replaced by
the Ottoman empire)
- other side known as the triple entente (Russia is to defend Serbia)
Russia sends troops to protect Serbia, Germany sends troops to Austria-Hungary in response
- Britain declares war on Germany
US remains neutral: Wilson calls it a "European war"
US continues to trade with all war participants:
- Britain and France get food, clothes, and weapons from the US
- American bankers give loans to Britain
- British naval blockade of Germany decreases trade
German u-boats or submarines
- sink enemy ships enroute to Britain in 1915
- May 7, 1915 Luistania (British passenger liner) is sunk by the British: Germany alleged it
was carrying weapons, Wilson denounced the sinking and demanded Germany pledge not to
attack neutral citizens
early 1916 allies armed merchant ships with guns and depth charges
- caused renewed u-boat attacks
- sunk Sessex (french)
Germany relented with Wilson and the US threatened to break diplomatics relations
- Sussex pledge: Germany promised to stop sinking merchant vessels without warning
- insisted that the US attempt to get neutral ships through blockade to German ports
Wilson's peace initiative January 1916
Housegrey memorandum: Britain agreed to ask us to negotiate
- Britain dropped out however when Wilson called for open, impartial peace
1916 Wilson in re-elected on the slogan "he kept us out of war"
Germany early 1917: full forces at France and Britain because of the collapse of Russia
- Germany announced unrestricted submarine war on January 31, 1917
- Febuary 1 the United States breaks its diplomatic relations
Zimmerman telegram: intercepted by the British (between Germany and Mexico)
- Mexican government is to attack the US if we decide to go to war with Germany
April 2 Wilson asks congress for war
- in order to make the world safe for democracy
- war declared April 6, 1917
in Russia
- tzar Nicholas is overthrown and an interum liberal government is established
- Bolshevik rebolution puts Lenon into power and he pulls out of the war
January 1918 Wilson's 14 points
- plan for post-war peace
Germany launched onto the offensive in March and April
armistice on November 11, 1918