World War I

I. June 1914, the heir apparent to the Habsburg throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, travels to the South Slav lands. Assassinated June 18, 1914, by Serb nationalists. Immediate background:

A. Austrian annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina 1908.
B. Balkan Wars 1912 and 1913.

II. Austrians assume Serbian government involved.

A. After much hesitation, Austrians deliver a set of demands to Serbian government. But beforehand, had secured German support.
B. When Serbia declines because of one point, Austria declares war on Serbia July 28, 1914.

III. A local war immediately escalates into a European, then world, war.

A. Alliance system--Triple Entente vs. Triple (at first) Alliance, though by the time of WWI Italy had essentially dropped out of the Triple Alliance.
B. Mobilization of armies.
C. German military strategy--the Schlieffen Plan.
D. The rush to war and popular enthusiasm.

IV. Causes of war.

A. Alliance system.
B. Nationalism.
C. Imperialism.
D. Domestic conflicts, which lead elites to consider war a way to create national unity.