The alliance system between nations in Europe was the main cause to start the war. An alliance is an agreement between nations that would help both sides win the war. Military alliances usually contain promises that if a country was attacked, the alliances of that country should go to war with the country that attacked. Alliance system contains economic agreements between countries such as loans and contains supplying weapons and materials. The system of alliances in Europe was a new concept because European nations were rivals the whole time. In 1914, Europe was divided into two combinations of great powers: the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy, and the Triple Entente of France, Russia, and Britain. Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck,
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By the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire, which included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline. Crisis in the Balkans started when Austro-Hungary annexed Bosnia to the empire. The Serbs were against this decision because they wanted Bosnia to become part of Greater Serbia. The reason is because Bosnia has a lot of Slavic people living there that should part of Serbia. The Austrian Annexation by taking Bosnia and Herzegovina created a crisis in the Balkans. The aftermath of this annexation lead, Gavrilo Princip, a Black Hand member, to assassinate Franz Ferdinand and his wife on their trip to Sarajevo. "The collapse of Europe's world dominance began with an assassination. It took place on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, the capital Bosnia, then under the Austro-Hungarian rule. A nineteen-year old terrorist, Gavrilo Princip, stepped up to the car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was making an official visit to the city. With a shaking hand Princip pumped bullets into the archduke and his wife, fatally wounding them both" (Findley, page 54) The assassination of the Archduke was the trigger of the Great War. Austria declared war on Russia, and on the same day, Russia, an ally of Serbia, took action. Leaders all over Europe suddenly took notice, while the fragile European stability seemed ready to collapse into armed
By the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire, which included the Balkan region, was in rapid decline. Crisis in the Balkans started when Austro-Hungary annexed Bosnia to the empire. The Serbs were against this decision because they wanted Bosnia to become part of Greater Serbia. The reason is because Bosnia has a lot of Slavic people living there that should part of Serbia. The Austrian Annexation by taking Bosnia and Herzegovina created a crisis in the Balkans. The aftermath of this annexation lead, Gavrilo Princip, a Black Hand member, to assassinate Franz Ferdinand and his wife on their trip to Sarajevo. "The collapse of Europe's world dominance began with an assassination. It took place on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, the capital Bosnia, then under the Austro-Hungarian rule. A nineteen-year old terrorist, Gavrilo Princip, stepped up to the car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was making an official visit to the city. With a shaking hand Princip pumped bullets into the archduke and his wife, fatally wounding them both" (Findley, page 54) The assassination of the Archduke was the trigger of the Great War. Austria declared war on Russia, and on the same day, Russia, an ally of Serbia, took action. Leaders all over Europe suddenly took notice, while the fragile European stability seemed ready to collapse into armed