WW1 Timeline

World War 1 Timeline

Michelle Quan 1A/B

1918

1917

1917

1917

1917

1917

1917

1915

1917

1917

Zimmermann Telegram

Russian Revolution

Wilson's 14 Points Speech

Committee on Public Information

Espionage Act

Bolshevik Revolution

Sinking of the Lusitania

War Industries Board

Selective Service Act

U.S. Enters WW1

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World War 1 Timeline

Michelle Quan 1A/B

1920

1918

1918

1918

1919

League of Nations

1918

Sedition Act

Armistice Day

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Treaty of Versailles

Influenza Pandemic

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May 7, 1915

Sinking of the Lusitania

On May 7th of 1915, a German submarine sank the Lusitania, a British ship that had departed from New York and was en route to Liverpool. This resulted in the death of over a thousand innocent civilians, over 100 of which were American citizens. Despite Wilson’s firm neutral stance, public outrage broke out at the news and anti-German sentiments were on the rise.

June 28, 1919

The Treaty of Versailles

This treaty effectively ended the war, placing heavy punishments on Germany. The peace terms were discussed by the big four: the US, Britain, France, and Italy. Each of the four had their views on peace terms, most for their nation’s own benefit, however in the end, harsh terms were put into place, contrary to the 14 points Wilson mentioned in his speech just a year earlier.

March 8-12, 1917

The February Revolution

In the midst of World War 1, Russians experienced food and fuel shortages, inflation, and devastating casualties. Having lost faith in the leadership of the Czar, many Russians rebelled and forced the Czar to abdicate his throne. A provisional government took its place.

July 1917

War Industries Board

3 months after joining World War 1, the War Industries Board was established. This board coordinated and controlled US industries in support of the nation’s military efforts, adapting to the nature of total warfare. While the board played a significant role in fixing prices and standardizing the production of war technology, it often had to negotiate with industries rather than controlling them.

Mar. 1918- April 1920

The Influenza Pandemic and Its Impact on U.S. Troops

During the war effort, the Influenza Pandemic (or Spanish Flu) swept through military camps and cities alike rapidly, causing a total of around 50 million deaths, far more than the war itself. This caused a mortality rate of 35% in the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) and decreased morale significantly.

April 6, 1917

United States Enters World War 1

On April 2, 1917, President Wilson presented his case to Congress: he wanted to declare war on Germany for their blatant violation of the suspension of unrestricted submarine warfare and the imminent danger Germany presented to national security and democracy. After a few days of consideration, Congress agreed and the United States officially declared war on Austria-Hungary, Germany’s ally, on April 6, 1917.

November 6-7, 1917

The Bolshevik Revolution

Attempting to get Russia to leave the war, Germany arranged for Lenin to re-enter Europe to destablize the Provisional Government. Discontent with the provisional government continued to grow and in November of 1917, the Bolsheviks took control of the capital and seized power of Russia, establishing the first communist state. A few months later, Russia withdrew from WW1.

November 11, 1918

Armistice Day

With Germany’s lack of new manpower and heavy casualties, they feared defeat in the near future, thus they called to negotiate for a ceasefire and armistice. On November 11, 1918, an armistice that officially ended World War 1 was signed between the allies and Germany. Today, this day is known as Veterans Day.

January 1917

The Zimmermann Telegram

The Zimmerman Telegram was written by a German foreign secretary to Mexico, hoping to convince the nation to join the German cause and alliance against the United States. However, before the telegram reached Mexico, it was intercepted by the British, who presented the telegram to Wilson shortly after. This marked the turning point in Wilson’s view of neutrality, turned the tides of public opinion in support of war against Germany, and convinced Congress to officially declare war on April 6, 1917.

April 1917

Committee on Public Information

Established in April of 1917 shortly after the United States’ entry into World War 1, the Committee on Public Information was the first national propaganda agency. The U.S. government utilized this organization to mobilize public opinion in the midst of the war and keep U.S. citizens engaged in the war effort. The CPI worked hard to intellectually justify the US’s involvement in the war, although sometimes so much so that it blurred President Wilson’s political goals with national interests.

May 18, 1917

Selective Service Act

One month after the United States entered World War 1, the Selective Service Act was passed. This act allowed the federal government to temporarily increase the size of the U.S. military, eventually requiring all males ages 21-45 to enlist in the military to help with war effort. This followed the trend of total warfare, utilizing all of the nation’s resources and manpower to fight the war.

June 15, 1917

Espionage Act

Enacted two months after the United States entered WW1, the Espionage act of 1917 prohibited the act of publishing any form of press (information, pictures, documents) with the intent of endangering the United States in the midst of war. The penalty for disobeying was a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment. The espionage act impeded on American citizen’s 1st amendment rights and was very controversial.

9/12 - 11/11, 1918

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was one of the final Allied Offensive attacks that brought an end to the war. Fought from September to November of 1918, over a million Americans participated in the largest operation of the American Expeditionary Forces. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was also the deadliest campaign in American history with more than 20,000 killed and over 120,000 casualties.

1920

The League of Nations

The League of Nations was formed by the US post World War 1 to resolve future international disputes peacefully. Each country that joined was committed to reducing their military and to respect the territories of other countries in the league of nations. While the US did support the cause, the nation itself did not join the league, leading to its ultimate failure as it was not given enough power to enforce acts to maintain international peace.

May 16, 1918

The Sedition Act

Passed on May 16, 1918, the Sedition Act expanded on the Espionage Act of 1917. It further restricted free speech of US citizens during the war by making it a crime to present information with the intent to harm US war efforts or talk poorly of the nation, its government, and its flag.

January 8, 1918

Wilson's Fourteen Points Speech

On January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech to Congress to rebuild the postwar world and to bring upon lasting peace worldwide. In his speech, he advocated for unselfish peace terms with the Central Powers, a vastly different approach than the traditional use of alliances to balance international powers. This motivated Americans to quickly end the war to bring upon peace and to appease tensions around the world.