Topics in Chronicling America - World War I Declarations

A month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, on July 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian government declares war on Serbia. Immediately, and within a period of six days, European countries declare war upon one another. Known as the Great War at the time, the conflict became the most destructive and widespread the world had ever seen. Read more about it!

The information and sample article links below provide access to a sampling of articles from historic newspapers that can be found in the Chronicling America: American Historic Newspapers digital collection (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/). Use the Suggested Search Terms and Dates to explore this topic further in Chronicling America.

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• July 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
• August 1, 1914. Germany Declares War on Russia.
• August 3, 1914. Germany declares war on France.
• August 4, 1914. Britain declares war on Germany.
• August 6, 1914. Austria declares war on Russia.
• August 23, 1914. Japan declares war on Germany.
• August 25, 1914. Austria declares war on Japan.
• April 6 & 7, 1917. U.S. declares war on Germany, Austria-Hungary.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Servia, Austro-Hungary, Austria, Germany, declaration, war, Europe
• It is important to use a specific date range if looking for articles for a particular event in order to narrow your results.

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "Austro-Hungarian Government Has Declared War on Servia, All Europe Prepares for War," The Ogden Standard (Ogden City, UT), July 28, 1914, 4 P.M. City Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-3.
• "Austria Has Chosen War," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), July 28, 1914, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "Germany Declares War Upon Russia," Medford Mail Tribune (Medford, OR), August 1, 1914, Second Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "War Declared," The True Democrat (Bayou Sara, LA), August 1, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4.
• "England Will Declare War on Germany This Evening," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), August 3, 1914, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-5.
• "British Now in Big War," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), August 3, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-6.
• "Britain Will War Today; German Envoy Quits Paris," The Washington Herald (Washington, DC), August 4, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 6.
• "Germany Declares War vs. France, Belgium," The Evening Herald (Klamath Falls, OR), August 4, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-7.
• "Belgians Hold Germans at Liege; Naval Fight On; British Cruiser Sunk; Austria Declares War on Russia," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 7, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "War Declared by Japan; Attack on Kiaochow Begun," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), August 23, 1914, Sunday Evening Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3-8.
• "U.S. Officially at War," The Daily Missourian (Columbia, MO), April 6, 1917, Page 1, Image 1, col. 5-6.
• "U.S. Is in It At Last! ," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), April 6, 1917, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "War Has Been Declared with All of Its Attending Horrors by the United States Against the Imperial Government of Germany," The Broad Ax (Salt Lake City, UT), April 7, 1917, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-6.
• "President's Order to the Navy is FIRE," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), April 7, 1917, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-4.
• "America in Armageddon; Country is Called to War; All Its Forces Mobilizing," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), April 7, 1917, Page 1, Image 1, col. 8.