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Archduke Ferdinand Assassinated in Sarajevo
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. This event is said to be the starting cause of WW1 because this event angered Austria Hungary who then proceeded to declare war on Serbia. -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk by German U-boats. About 1,200 passengers on the ship were killed. The Germans claimed that the ship had weapons and ammunition which is why they sunk it. In response, Wilson was stunned but he continued to want peace, and the Germans promised to not sink any more passenger ships. -
United States Declare War
Two main events pushed the U.S. into war and they were when the German minister sent the Zimmerman note, and the other was Germany again doing announced, unrestricted submarine warfare. Because of these events, Wilson no longer called for peace and had congress declare war on Germany. -
Treaty of Versailles
This treaty ended the war between Germany and the Allies. It forced Germany to take full responsibility for the war, pay all the reparations from the war, and it limited the size of Germany's military. Even though the German government protested, they ended up signing the treaty. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On Decemeber 7th, 1941, Japanese fighter panes attacked a large U.S. naval base located near Hawaii without warning. Isoroku Yamamoto planned the attack. This event was what got the United States to enter the war. -
Bataan Death March
After the U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, around 75,000 Philipino and American troops were forced to make and arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers were subjected to harsh treatment by the Japanese and marched in intense heat. Thousands died during this march. -
The Invasion of Normandy (D-Day)
The greatest amphibious operation in history, mainly American and British forces assaulted the strongly fortified coast of France at Normandy. (One of the most decisive battles of the twentieth century.) -
City of Paris was liberated
After the Allies won the Battle of Normandy, they moved forward rapidly and liberated the City of Paris. -
V-E Day
V-E Day was the public holiday celebrated on May 8, 1945 once Nazi Germany surrendered. (It was the victory in Europe) -
Dropping of the first Atomic Bomb
With Presiden Truman's approval, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the people of Hiroshima and another was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th eventually resulting into the surrender of Japan. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a large German offensive that occured in the Adrennes. As the Germans drew deeper into the Allied lines, the line formed the shape of a large bulge. The Germans demanded the surrender of the Allies, but George Patton's maneuvering of the Third Army was vital during this offensive and it got the Germans to neautralize. -
North Korea invades South Korea
75,000 North Korean soldiers crossed the 38th parallel which was the boundry between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the southt . -
U.S. troops invade at Inchon
US forces push North Korean army back north of the 38th parallel -
Pyongyang falls to UN forces
The North Korean capital is now in UN control -
Truman relieves MacArthur of command
Following several warnings about insubordination, Truman fires the US commander -
Armistice Agreement
War is settled with the establishment of a demilitarized zone on each side of the 38th parallel -
Battle of La Drang Valley
The battle of La Drang was the first major battle between the United States and North Vietnam. The Americans used air mobility, artillery fire and close air support to accomplish battlefield objectives. North Vietnamese forces learned that they could neutralize that firepower by quickly engaging American forces at very close range. -
Tet Offensive
The name of the attack comes from the Tet holiday,the Vietnamese New Year, which was when the first major attack took place. This was one of the largest militar campaigns during the VIetnam War. More than 80,000 communists troops took over mmore than 100 towns and cities including the capital of the south, 36 of the 44 provinical capitals, 5 of the 6 autonomous cities, and 72 of 245 district towns. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was when a group of American soldiers brutally killed a small village in South Vietnam. As many as 500 civillians including women, children, and the elderly were killed in the massacre. This event turned many Americans against the Vietnam war, and it had given a lot of Americans distrust in the soldiers. -
Vietnamization
President Nixon's plan for gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces as South Vietnamese troops assumed more comabt duty. -
Hamburger Hill
This battle was fought by the United States and South Vietnam against North Vietnam from May 10th to May 20th. During this battle the U.S. ordered to capture Hill 397, only to abandon it soon after. After the battle there was contoversy on if the battle was worth it. Also, this battle had gotten the name Hamburger Hill because Hill 397 looked like a human meat grimder. -
Kent State University
The Cambodian attack had huge impact on the peace movement at home. Through out the country, college campuses erupted in portests. At Kent State, demostrators threw rocks and bottles at members or the National Guard. One Guardsmen thought he heard a sniper's shot so the then fired his rifle. Hi s shot prompted others to discharge a volley of gunfire into the group of protestors killing four youths. -
26th Amendment is ratified
The 26th Amendment gave the United States citizens who were 18 years of age or older the right to vote. -
North Vietnam Releases POW's
After the Paris Peace Accords of January 1973, U.S. prisoners of war were returned during Operation Homecoming. During this operation, 591 POWs were released to U.S. authorities. -
Nixon Resigns
Nixon resigned during his second term because of the political scandal known as Watergate. Watergate was a break in into the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., and also how President Nixon's adminstraations attempted to cover it up. -
Saigon Falls to the North Vietnamese
In the spring, minor fighting ecalated when North Vietnam launched an offensive against the South. Without American aid and ground support, South Vietnam was no match for the Soviet- supplied North Vietnamese Army. By the end of April, had taken over Saigon. -
Iraq invaded Kuwait
This was a seven month long Iraqi occupation, and it subsequently led to direct military intervention by US forces in the Gulf War. -
United Nations ask for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait
The United Nations demanded immediate withdrawal of the Iraqi forces. -
Operation Desert Storm
American-led attack on Iaqi forces after Iraq refused to withdraw its troops from Kuwait -
Iraqis surrendered
Iraqi troops surrendered or fled setting fire to Kuwaiti oil rigs along the way. -
Slovenia and Croatia decare their independence from Yugoslavia- begins a Civil War
Slovenia wins its battle with Milosevic. Milosevic now focuses on Croatia. 12% are Orthodox Serbs, and after the fall of the City if Vukovar, the first mass executions of Croats occurred. -
Recognized Bosnia Independence
Mostly a Muslim country (32% were Serbs). Milosevic responds by attacking Sarajevo, the capitl city, where thousands of civilians including children were killed. "Ethnic Cleansing" occurred. -
UN Resolution 751
Autorizes humanitarian relief effforts and establishes UN operations in Somalia. -
Operation Provide Relief
Wanted to avoid using the military in these humanitarian efforts. -
U.S, Marine and Navy Seals arrive in Mogadishu to help secure the area.
U.S. Marine and Navy Seals arrive in Mogadishu to help secure the area -
U.S. troops fight in the capital city of Mogadishu
19 men were killed and 73 were wounded on the U.S. side during this event -
U.S. troops fight in the capital city of Mogadishu
19 men were killed and 73 were wounded on the U.S. side during this event -
Sarajevo attacked
68 were killed and 200 more were wounded -
Military Effectiveness Takes Hold
Massive NATO bombing forces -
Peace Agreement
Milosevic is ready to talk peace. In Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, it was agreed that there would be democratic elections,two main portions: Bosnian Serb Republic and Muslim-Craot Federation, and that war criminals must be handed over ofr prosecution.
