Convoluted alliances and racism had caused tension to be built up for years between many of the European powers; this tension finally reached the boiling point with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand beginning World War I.
Prior to the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, many alliances had formed within Europe along with many resentments. The Dual-Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany was created in Vienna on October 7, 1879. The terms of this alliance stated that if one of the two empires (Germany and Austria-Hungary) were attacked by Russia or another power, then the two empires would ally together (Doc. 1). Italy was then added to this alliance in 1882 to create the Triple Alliance (Doc. 2). At this time Russia was also allied with France and Serbia.
During this time in history there was also a great amount of racism. Much of this racism came from the Germanic peoples thinking that they were superior to people like the Serbs and the Slavs. The Germanic people belonged to the Aryan race, which the Germanic peoples believed was the best (Doc 3). Many Austria-Hungarians were Germanic, so they believed themselves to be superior to the Serbs. This caused the Serbs to feel resentment towards the Austria-Hungarians; so much resentment that the Serbs would assassinate the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were both assassinated by a Serbian group called the Black Hand while visiting Serbia (Doc 9). The Black Hand was a Serbian Nationalist group that wanted Serbia to rise up and take control of any areas that Serbians lived in (Doc 6). The assassination of Franz Ferdinand naturally angered Austria-Hungary. The Austria-Hungarian Minister of Belgrade sent the Royal Serbian Government terms, which if followed, would stop Austria-Hungary from declaring war on Serbia. Serbia, however, did not agree with all of the terms (Doc. 7). So, on July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (Doc 8).
Emperor William II of Germany conversed with Tsar Nicholas II of Russia to try to keep the war between only Austria-Hungary and Serbia, and not to extend the war to Russia and Germany. Russia, however, mobilized it's army against Austria-Hungary, causing Germany to then have to mobilize it's army because it was allied with Austria-Hungary (Doc. 8). This then brought the other allies of Russia and Germany into the mix: France (Russia) and Italy (Germany). The racism and convoluted alliances in Europe were the main reasons that World War I.
