World War 1

Sequence of Events

Sarajevo, June 28, 1914- Serbian terrorist assassinated the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand.
Vienna, July 23- Austrian government issues and ultimatum threatening a war against Serbia.
Berlin, August 1- As Austria’s ally, the German government under Kaiser Wilhelm I declares war against Russia, an ally of Serbia.
Berlin, August 3- Germany declares war on France, an ally of Russia, and begins to invade neutral Belgium because it offered a faster route to Paris.
London, August 4- Great Britain, an ally of France, declares war against Germany.

The United States intervened in the Caribbean and asserted the Open Door Policy in China. President Wilson issued a declaration of United States neutrality. The Triple Alliance or the Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungry, and the Ottoman Empire/ Turkey. The Triple Entente or the Allies included Britain, Russia, France, Italy, and the United States. The British passenger ship the Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 1915, killing one hundred twenty-eight Americans. In 1915, Germany attacked another ship, the Arabic, and President Wilson was told by Germany that no other passenger ship shall be sunk without warning. Germany kept its word until 1916, till the merchant ship Sussex was torpedoed, Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany. Germany promised not to sink merchant or passenger ships without warning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I