The Spark that Ignited World War I

What led to the outbreak of World War I?

Why did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?

Answer:

The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife led to the outbreak of World War I.

The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife had significant consequences that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I. The assassination took place on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip.

In response to the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued a series of demands to Serbia, which Serbia refused to meet. This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, and the conflict quickly escalated as alliances were activated, with Russia supporting Serbia and Germany supporting Austria-Hungary. This chain of events eventually led to the involvement of other major powers, culminating in the outbreak of World War I.