Archduke Ferdinand Assassinated
World War 1 began when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated. A young Serbian terrorist shot and killed the Archduke and his wife. Enraged, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia agreed to defend Serbia. Germany helped Austria-Hungary. France decided to help the Russians. Germany declared war on France and Russia, and England declared war on Germany. Soon, all major colonies of Europe found themselves in the first war to be fought on a global scale.
The lusitania sunk
All nations separated themselves into different sections: Allied powers (and their allies), Neutral nations, and the Central powers. Allied nations were sent to block all of Germany's waters. Britain threatened that any of Germany's boats passing through Germany's waters would be sunk. Germany had to resort to U-boat defense. One of the first victims of German submarine defense was the British luxury liner, Lusitania. Before leaving New York, Germany warned the Lusitania not to board citizens on the ship because of the British blockade. The Lusitania was carrying war supplies for the British army, therefore, the Lusitania was under great threat of German U-boats defending their country. Despite the warning, Lusitania boarded with citizens and left for Britain. Just off the Ireland coast, a submarine torpedoed the Lusitania. Around 1,200 people died in sinking of the Lusitania.
America provoked into Ww1
Late in March,1917, German submarines shot and sunk four unarmed American ships, killing thirty-six Americans. Germany, now a military dictatorship, had then enticed America into war. President Wilson asked Congress to allow America to retaliate, and on April 6, 1917, America was in war once again.