how did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferinand lead to World War 1?
a. it ended possible peace talks between serbia and austria-hungary
b. bismarck’s scheme of secret against serbia provoked the assassination and then the war
c. it allowed russia to ally with serbia and declare war on germany
d. alliances forced many countries to go to war either in support of austria-hungary or serbia
d?
Yes, d.
Yes, option (d) is correct. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand played a significant role in triggering World War 1 because of the alliances and commitments between different countries. Here's how it happened:
1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a member of a Serbian nationalist group called The Black Hand.
2. Austria-Hungary saw the assassination as a direct attack on its sovereignty. They believed that Serbia was involved in the plot and demanded an investigation by the Serbian government.
3. As tensions escalated, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, containing several demands to be met within 48 hours. Serbia agreed to some demands but not all.
4. Austria-Hungary, feeling that their demands were not fully met, declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
5. The existing system of alliances came into play. Austria-Hungary had a defensive alliance with Germany, which prompted Germany's support for Austria-Hungary's actions.
6. Russia, at this time, had a mutual defense pact with Serbia and felt obliged to support Serbia against Austria-Hungary. Russia began mobilizing its forces.
7. Germany, fearing a two-front war with both Russia and France, declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914. This led to France, as Russia's ally, joining the war to defend Russia.
8. The alliance system drew in more countries. The Triple Entente, consisting of France, Russia, and Britain, aligned against the Central Powers, led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and later the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).
9. As the war progressed, more nations joined based on alliances and geopolitical interests.
So, in summary, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to World War 1 primarily because of the alliances and commitments between different countries. The system of alliances and subsequent declarations of war pulled in more nations, turning a regional conflict into a global war.