December 1, !999 World War I World War I involved more countries and caused greater destruction than any other An assassins bullet set off the war, and a system of militaryagreements plunged the main European powers into the fight. Each side expected a quickvictory; but the war lasted four years and took the lives of nearly ten million militarytroops. Military drafts raised larger armies than ever before, and extreme patriotism gave mena cause they were willing to die for. Progaganda whipped up support for the war bymaking the enemy seem villainous. On June 28, 1914, an assassin gunned down Archduke Francis Ferdinard ofAustria-Hungary in Sarejevo, the capital of Austria-Hungarys province of Bornia. Thekiller, Gavrilo Princip, had ties to a terrorist organization in Serbia. Austria-Hungarybelieved that Serbias government was behind the assassination. It seized theopportunity to declare war on Serbia and settle an old feud. Austria-Hungary decided to use this assassination as an excuse to settle its fight withSerbia. Germany backed Austria, and on July 23 Austria presented a warlike ultimatumto Serbia. It allowed forty-eight hours for a reply. On July 28, Austria refused Serbiasreply and declared war on Serbia. Rollins 2 All nations in Europe had been expecting war and rival groups had been makingtreaties and alliances for many years. Europe was divided into two camps. Germany,Austria-Hungary, and Italy were members of the Triple Alliance, or Central Powers. Russia, France, and England formed the rival Triple Entente Powers, which was latercalled the Allies. The Balkan States sided with Serbia and the Allies. Serbias enemieswere on the side of the Central Power...
