World History: Beginning of World War I

Study Notes

Beginning of World War I

At the start of the 20th century, the Balkans was a region of significant instability in Europe, with competing influences from the Ottomans, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
The Balkans were considered unstable due to the presence of multiple ethnic groups and competing desires among these powers for control.
Austria-Hungary viewed Serbia as a source of instability and a threat to its own power.
Serbia had experienced significant growth in power following the Balkan Wars of 1912-13.

Direct Causes of World War I

Serbia was viewed as rebellious and was under the control of Austria-Hungary, who regarded it as a dangerous source of unrest.
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
The assassination sparked a chain reaction with Austria-Hungary issuing an ultimatum to Serbia.
Serbia's response was deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary.

The Black Hand

The Black Hand was a Serbian military society that supported Serbian nationalism.
Members of the society believed Bosnia should be part of a Greater Serbia.
Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Chain Reaction Leading to War

Following the assassination, the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) quickly made a decision to initiate war, agreeing on the terms of an ultimatum to be sent to Serbia.
The Central Powers issued an ultimatum that required Serbia to respond within 48 hours. A key concern in the ultimatum was the possible mediation of other major European powers.
Belgrade, the Serbian capital, was bombed on July 28, 1914, after the Serbian government failed to fully accept Austria-Hungary's demands.

Indirect Causes of World War I

Nationalism: intense loyalty and devotion to one's nation
Imperialism: a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Militarism: a belief in the importance of military strength.
Alliances: the agreement among nations or groups of nations who pledge to support one another.

Imperialism

Imperialism is when a nation expands its power by controlling other territories for resources and economic growth.
Imperialistic leaders often saw war as a means of asserting national power.

Militarism

Industrialization during the 19th and 20th centuries led to powerful, mass armies.
Advances in technology led to new weaponry, increasing tensions.
Military expansion and preparedness raised the climate of political tension.

Mobilization

Mobilization is the process of assembling troops and supplies for war.
At the time it was considered an aggressive act.
The mobilization of troops was a significant escalation in the crisis.

Alliances

System of alliances, dividing the powers into the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, amplified tensions.
Alliances drew specific nations into conflict quickly due to pledges of assistance.

Description

Explore the factors leading up to the outbreak of World War I, particularly focusing on the Balkan region's instability and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This quiz covers the intricacies of political relationships and tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary that ignited the war.