The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

‘Without the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, World War One would not have started’. Explain to what extent you agree with this.

World War one is a war to remember because it was the first war to involve countries from all over the world. The purpose of this assessment is to explore whether World War One would have started without the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. I will be looking at the long and short term causes of the First World War such as the Assassination, Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism and Significant Individuals.

There were five Great Powers that were divided into two strong and powerful alliances. They were about to fight each other in the most awful war the world has ever known.

In 1879 Germany quarrelled with Russia. Germany was worried that Russia would attack, and so agreed with Austria that the two countries would help each other if either were attacked. Three years later, Italy joined them, and the Triple Alliance was formed.

The alliance upset France and Russia. In 1892, they agreed to help each other if either was attacked. Great Britain was worried about the situation in Europe and began to look for an ally. In 1904 Britain signed, an agreement with France called the ‘Entente Cordiale’. Three years later Britain made similar agreement with Russia. The alliance between Britain, France and Russia was known as the Triple Entente.

By 1907 Europe was divided into two sets of alliances, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. The countries in both alliances were well armed and powerful.

There were many causes of the First World War; these causes are split up into two main categories, short term and long term. The long term causes can then be sub categorized into M.A.I.N.S (Militarism, Alliances, and Imperialism, Nationalism and Significant individuals)

The Triple Alliance Triple Entente