a. Nationalism: Growing nationalist sentiments and territorial disputes among European powers amplified the sense of competition and rivalry.
b. Imperialism: Imperial expansion created competition for resources and colonies, particularly in Africa and the Balkans.
c. Militarism: European nations engaged in an arms race, building up their military capabilities and forming alliances to strengthen their positions.
2. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:
a. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina (part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire).
3. Diplomatic crisis and the failure of diplomacy:
a. The assassination triggered a series of diplomatic exchanges and negotiations between Austria-Hungary, Serbia, and other European powers.
b. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which Serbia accepted in part but not fully.
c. Russia, allied with Serbia, began mobilizing its military, causing Germany to issue an ultimatum to Russia and France (Russia's ally).
4. July Crisis:
a. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, followed by a declaration of war on France on August 3.
b. Germany violated Belgian neutrality by invading Belgium, prompting Britain to declare war on Germany on August 4, marking the official start of World War I in Europe.
5. Alliance systems:
a. The alignment of European powers into two opposing alliances contributed to the escalation of the conflict: the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia).
b. The activation of these alliances meant that declarations of war and acts of aggression by one country would draw in its allies, leading to a domino effect of countries joining the conflict.