IGCSE History Term 1 Week 1: Causes of WW1

Study Notes

Causes of World War 1: Assassination in Sarajevo

Franz Ferdinand, aged 51, was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had three children with his wife, Sophie Chotek von Chotvoka.
He was unpopular due to intentions of reforming the empire upon ascending to the throne.
By 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire included Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary, which was a source of tension, especially after the forceful annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908.
On June 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand's visit to Sarajevo was part of inspecting Austro-Hungarian troops.
The Archduke’s visit coincided with a planned assassination by a Serbian nationalist group, The Black Hand, which aimed to eliminate him.
Seven assassins were positioned along the route to attack the Archduke's car. The first two attempts failed due to crowds and speed.
The third assassin, Gavrilo Princip, threw a grenade that injured attendants, but not the Archduke and his wife.
After the visit to the City Hall, the couple aimed to pay respects to the injured attendants in the hospital.
A wrong turn by the driver led him to stop and reverse the car, providing Princip another opportunity to act.
Princip fired two shots: one mortally wounded Sophie, who was pregnant, and the other killed Franz Ferdinand shortly thereafter.
Gavrilo Princip, being under 20, was sentenced to twenty years in prison instead of execution; he died from tuberculosis in 1918.

Description

Explore the key events leading to World War 1 in this quiz focused on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the political climate in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This quiz is based on digitized notes for Year 9 IGCSE History, helping students understand critical historical moments. Test your knowledge and understanding following the first week of Term 1!