in-depth timeline of the 1910's

A timeline of significant global events, agreements, political conflicts, and disputes during the 1910s, a decade largely shaped by the lead-up to and duration of World War I.

1911

  • Chinese Revolution (Xinhai Revolution): A nationalist revolt that overthrows the Qing Dynasty, marking the end of imperial rule in China and leading to the establishment of the Republic of China.

  • Italo-Turkish War begins: Italy declares war on the Ottoman Empire, seeking to gain Libya and other territories.

  • Agadir Crisis (Second Moroccan Crisis): A brief international tension triggered by the deployment of a German gunboat to the Moroccan port of Agadir, escalating imperial rivalries.

1912

  • China becomes a Republic: Sun Yat-sen is inaugurated as the provisional president of the Republic of China.

1913

  • Treaty of London: Ends the First Balkan War, delineating new borders in the Balkans.

  • Federal Reserve Act (USA): Establishes the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States.

1914

  • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28): The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne is assassinated in Sarajevo, triggering a chain of events that leads to World War I.

  • Outbreak of World War I (July-August): Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, followed by Germany's declarations of war on Russia and France, and Britain's on Germany.

1917

  • United States enters World War I (April): Motivated by unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, the U.S. declares war on Germany, significantly boosting Allied moral and resources.

  • Zimmermann Telegram (January): A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico, intercepted by British intelligence, proposing a military alliance against the U.S., which helped draw the U.S. into the war.

1918

  • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March): Russia signs a separate peace treaty with the Central Powers, withdrawing from WWI and ceding large territories.

  • German Spring Offensive (March-July): Germany's final major offensive on the Western Front, attempting to achieve victory before American forces could fully deploy. Initially successful, it ultimately failed.

1919

  • Paris Peace Conference begins (January): The Allied victors meet to set peace terms for the defeated Central Powers, dominated by the "Big Four" (U.S., Britain, France, Italy).

  • Treaty of Versailles signed (June 28): The most important of the peace treaties that brought WWI to an end. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers, imposing harsh terms on Germany.

  • Formation of the League of Nations: Proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, an international organization established to promote international cooperation and achieve peace and security.