World War I

World War 1

On Sunday, June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, an 18-year-old Serbian named Gavrilo

Princip, shot and killed Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Duchess Sophie while

they were driving in an open car. Princip belonged to a sercet terror society, called the

Black Hand, that wanted to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule and unite it with Serbia. The

assassination led to the first World War. This terrible conflict latsed over 4 years, involved

over 30 nations, and claimed more than 20,000,000 lives, both miltary and civilian. It

cost billions of dollars, destroyed Europe, crumbled empires, and sowed seeds of World

War 2.

There were also others causes that led up to World War 1. Over time, countries in Europe

made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. If one country was

attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following

alliances existed: Russia and Serbia, Germany and Austria-Hungary (The Dual Alliance

1879), France and Russia (Franco-Russian Alliance 1891), Britain and France and

Belgium, and Japan and Britain. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (July 28, 1914),

Russia got involved to defend Serbia. Germany seeing Russia mobilizing, declared war

on Russia (August 1, 1914). France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-

Hungary (August 3, 1914). Germany attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain

into war (August 4, 1914). This eventually split the continent into two hostile sides. The

Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, later joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman

Empire), and the Allies (Great Britain, France, Russia, later joined by Japan, Italy, and the

United States).

Another factor that increased the rivalry in Europe was imperialism. Before World War 1,

Africa and parts of Asia were areas of conflict between the European countries. This was

because of the raw materials these areas could provide. The increasing competition and

desire for greater empires led to an increase in conflict that helped start World War I.

Militarism