WWI Timeline - APUSH Period 7

3. Russian Revolution

WWI Timeline - The US

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APUSH Period 7 - Tuhina Das, 3B

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4. Committee on Public Information

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1. Sinking of the Lusitania

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2. Zimmermann Telegram

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4. The US Enters WWI

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8. War Industries Board

WWI Timeline - The US

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APUSH Period 7 - Tuhina Das, 3B

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10. Influenza Pandemic

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6. Selective Service Act

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7. Espionage Act

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9. Wilson's Fourteen Points Speech

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13. Armistice Day

WWI Timeline - The US

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APUSH Period 7 - Tuhina Das, 3B

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15. Formation of League of Nations

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11. Sedition Act of 1918

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12. Meuse-Argonne Offensive

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14. Treaty of Versailles

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War Industries Board

The War Industries Board was a US government agency established in July 1917 to handle all industries involved in the war. The board coordinated the distribution and production of essentials such as weapons and food, and was meant to ensure that yet again, nothing would go wrong so the United States could focus on mobilizing all efforts towards the war.

Selective Service Act

In May 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed to authorize the federal government's ability to create a national army during wartime. This act made it a compulsory for all men aged 21 to 45 years old to enlist in the Army and aid in the war effort.

Russian Revolution of 1917

The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 was a sociopolitical uprising against the Tsar autocracy of Russia. Led by the Bolsheviks, this revolution directly contributed to the development of the USSR and the rise of communism. Following the revolution, many Americans felt that the capitalist nature of their country was being threatened, which convinced them that the US should enter WWI to prevent the spread of communism.

Armistice Day

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, or November 11th, 1918, all countries involved in WWI declared a ceasefire that ended the war. The day is still celebrated in commemoration of the brave soldiers who fought in the war.

Sinking of the Lusitania

On May 7, 1915, a German submarine (U-boat) sank the RMS Lusitania, a British cruise liner. Germany saw the Lusitania as a threat due to its ability to mobilze for war and its carrying of war materials. In the process, American civilians on the ship were killed and the United States demanded an apology, compensation for the victims , and a pledge to discontinue unannounced submarine warfare from Germany. This strained tensions between the two countries.

Treaty of Versailles

On June 28th, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed during the Paris Peace Conference, which lasted from January 1919 to January 1920.This peace settlement was controversial due to the guilt clauses it included, humiliating Germany and forcing the country to forfeit its land and military to the protest of President Wilson. The economic and political devastation that would follow this Treaty in Germany would eventually result in the rise of the Nazis and subsequently, WWII.

Influenza Pandemic

During February 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic began. The flu ran rampant amongst troops in WWI, rapidly killing many and demoralizing people both on the warfront and the home front. it is worth noting, however, that this also had the same effect on other countries, including Germany. This demoralization would prove to be helpful to the Allied Powers in their victory against the Central Powers later in the year.

Zimmermann Telegram

In January 1917, the German Empire sent a secret telegram to Mexico offering to form a military alliance with Mexico. The proposal promised Mexico the lands of Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico in exchange for waging war against the United States. The United States intercepted this telegram and discovered the proposal, which soured public opinion of the German Empire and played a major decision in the country's role to join WWI.

Wilson's 14 Points

On January 8th, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson made a speech to Congress about what he envisioned peace negotiations would look like. This served as the basis for the Treaty of Versailles ending the war and stressed the importance of creating an international organization to prevent further wars (the League of Nations).

Espionage Act of 1917

In June 1917, Congres passed the Espionage Act to make engaging in disloyal or treasonous activities illegal, such as the obstruction of army enlistment. This act was mainly passed to ensure that while fighting in the war, the United States wouldn't be dealing with any internal conflicts that would hamper their progress in wartime.

Committee on Public Information

Following the declaration of war, President Woodrow Wilson's administration started the Committee on Public Information on April 13th, 1917, to keep American morale high during the war, provide information about all things war-related, and spread propaganda to encourage the support of American participation in WWI.

US Entry Into WWI

On April 4, 1917, Congress officially declared war on Germany, entering the United States into WWI. This decision was made primarily on the basis that Germany would not relent in its submarine attacks against the country's vessels, despite several warnings. However, other factors like the Zimmermann Telegram also played a role in pushing the US into the war.

Sedition Act of 1918

In May 1918, the Sedition Act was passed as an amendment of the Espionage Act of 1917. The act made it a criminal offense to criticize the government during wartime, which made it convtroversial due to it's supposed violation of the First Amendment. This controversy culminated in the court case Schenk v. United States, where the Supreme Court ruled that the act was constitutional due to the United States' status as being in war.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

From September to November of 1918, the Allied Powers carried out their largest -- and final -- military operation during World War I, the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The offensive was an effort to push Germany out of France and yielded many casualities on both sides. However, the Allied Powers emerged victorious, forcing Germany to surrender and ending all fighting.

Formation of the League of Nations

In 1920, the League of Nations was officially formed as a reult of the Paris Peace Conference. The organizations strived to promote international peace, but failed to prevent WWII due to the lack of major powers such as the United States and the voting structure, which made decision-making within the organization difficult.