1. Timeline of WWI

2. 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) is assassinated by a Serbian terrorist Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia Russia prepares to help Serbia Germany declares war on Russia France declares war on Germany Germany invades Belgium and France Great Britain declares war onGermany America declares neutrality

3. 1915 - 1916 Italy joins Allies Central Powers win many battles 1917 Russian Revolution Russia withdraws from the war The United States enters the war, turning the tide for the Allies

4. The Russian Revolution (1917) Before the Revolution: Most Russians were poor and many were starving Russia was exhausted by WWI The Revolution: Czar Nicholas II (the last emperor of Russia) was forced by the Russian people to give up his throne He wanted to keep fighting in WWI He ignored the peasants and city workers Civil War The Bolsheviks (Communists), led by Vladimir Lenin, defeated their enemies and took control of Russia Russia withdrew from WWI Russia was transformed into a communist nation and was renamed the Soviet Union (a.k.a. the U.S.S.R.)

5. 1918 Woodrow Wilson (President of the United States) delivers “14-Points” speech Germany agrees to stop fighting WWI ends 1919 The Treaty of Versailles is written

6. The United States and WWI At the beginning of the war: America declared neutrality (didn’t take sides) Reasons for U.S. entry into the war: Economic relationships with the Allies The U.S. had been selling many products and loaning a lot of money to the Allies and (privately) wanted them to win the war Unrestricted submarine warfare To prevent supplies from getting to the Allies, German U-boats sunk boats without warning Sinking of the Lusitania – 128 Americans killed! The Zimmermann Telegram A note from the German government asking Mexico to attack the U.S. was intercepted and published in newspapers Effects of U.S. entry into WWI: Arrival of fresh US troops helped the Allies win war