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Serbian nationalist terrorist Gavrilo Princip from "The Black Hand" murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The Serbian nationalist terrorist group "The Black Hand" believed that Austria-Hungary held on to territory that rightfully belonged to Serbia and sent Gabric to commit the murder. The Austrian- Hungary government sent Serbia a 10 point list of demands, among them the repudiation of Nationalist terrorist groups in the country and the AH police to further investigate the assassination. Serbian government rejected some of the demands and Austria-Hungary declared war on them.

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Russia was apprehensive about war with Germany (An Austria-Hungary ally) and when met with Serbian officials, advised them to appease Austria-Hungary's demands. Due to the Russo-Serbian alliance, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russian officials demanded they not invade. When they did, Russia started organizing and mobilizing to back Serbia for war.

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Great Britain very much dreaded the concept of a large conflict, they tried several times to mediate between countries to avoid war. Great Britan did not get involved, even when Germany declared war on France. It wasn't until Germany invaded Belgium, a neutral country, as a way to get around France's defenses that Great Britain entered the war.

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Following the death of Franz Ferdinand, France officials knew there was a great appetite for war from Germany and they saw this as an opportunity to affirm support from their allies Russia and Serbia. There are conflicting reports on how much France truly did to advise restraint from allies Russia and Serbia. Once Germany declared war on France, there were great outbursts of patriotic sentiment from the French public.

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The United States remained neutral during the beginning of the war with some Americans supporting intervention and many more others did not. Many Americans did support the allies in other ways, such as contributing to relief efforts, volunteering as doctors and nurses, or even joining volunteer military brigades.
American view on neutrality slowly eroded due to German military aggression with their U-boats, the sinking of Lusitania, and the Zimmerman Telegram.

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It is quite unclear if there were any external factors that influenced the ottoman empire to enter the war. On August 2nd ottoman officials signed a secret pact with Germany to come to each other defense if Russia attacked. In October 1914 the Ottoman empire sunk several naval ships at the advice of German officials. Russia formally declared on the Ottoman Empire in November of 1914.

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Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914, a month to the day that their heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, was murdered by a Serbian Terrorist.  The ruling eighty-three-year-old emperor, Franz Joseph I was pressured by military advisors, general advisors, and German allies to seek German support and declare war on Serbia.

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Led by their leader Kaiser Wilhelm II, there was staunch support and appetite among different German factions for war.  The German leader was surrounded by nationalistic generals who thirsted to settle their rivalries with Russia and France. The German public was extremely nationalistic and confident that the german army was superior and would win any future conflict.  They did not expect that the war would last more than a few weeks.

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Opposing Sides : Central Powers vs. Allied Powers 

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Opposing Sides : Central Powers vs. Allied Powers 

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Due to the economic and territorial losses incurred during the Balkan wars, Bulgaria chose to "Neutrality" and stayed out of the WW1 conflict. Bulgaria was in a strategic position that appealed to both side as an ally but due to Bulgaria's strong desire to gain back the lands they lost in the Balkans war, they invaded Serbia and officially joined the Central Powers.

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On May 15, 1915, German U-boats sunk the British passenger ship Lusitania just off the coast of Ireland. Over 1,000 people were killed including 128 Americans. Although the ship was loaded with military equipment, many Americans were angry because the passenger ship was not warned before sinking. This event severely strained German-American diplomatic relationships.

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Around this time (1914-1915) many stories circulated in American media about German soldiers committing atrocities to Belgium townsfolk and citizens. Some of these stories were later found to be fabricated by the British to boost morale and garner American support. Nonetheless, These stories shifted anti-german sentiment among Americans and eventually led to the U.S. entry into WW1.

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After the Naval blockade the British had set up to restrict Germany's importing of goods, the Germans felt justified to freely navigate their U-boats in the oceans to restrict Britain from obtaining foreign goods as well.  after the sinking of the Lusitania, the germans pledged not to sink another passenger liner, the pledge was shortlived after they sank another passenger ship, the Sussex. The German's made another pledge but that one was short-lived as well.

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August 12, 1914 - France and Great Britain declare war on Austria. All of Europe is at war.

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August 12, 1914 - France and Great Britain declare war on Austria. All of Europe is at war.

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August 6, 1914 - Austria declares war on Russia

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August 6, 1914 - Austria declares war on Russia

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August 4, 1914 - Germany invades neutral Belgium to get around France's border defenses. Britain declares war on Russia to defend Belgium and ally France. 

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August 4, 1914 - Germany invades neutral Belgium to get around France's border defenses. Britain declares war on Russia to defend Belgium and ally France. 

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August 3, 1914 - Germany declares war on France

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August 3, 1914 - Germany declares war on France

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August 1, 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia

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August 1, 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia

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July 28, 1914 - Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilizes to defend Serbia 

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July 28, 1914 - Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilizes to defend Serbia 

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US business was heavily (economically) invested in a central power victory, they had loaned millions of USD to support the war effort in Europe. Had the US allowed the allied powers to win over the Central powers that money would not have been repaid.

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Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria-Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove its dominance and power over one another.

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As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved into war.

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Imperialism is when a country increases its power and wealth by bringing additional territories under its control. Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention among the European countries (Great Britain, Germany, France, etc). This was especially true because of the raw materials these areas could provide. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into WW I.

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Countries in Europe made alliances that would pull them to defend one another in their time of need or if they were ever attacked. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed:

Russia and Serbia (Russo-Serbian Alliance 1807)

Germany and Austria-Hungary (Dual Alliance 1879)

France and Russia  (Franco-Russo Alliance 1891)

Britain and France and Belgium (Treaty of London 1839)

Japan and Britain (Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902)

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June 28, 1914 - Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 

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June 28, 1914 - Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 

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On June 28th of 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian-Hungary throne, was gunned down by a Serbian terrorist. The Serbian-nationalist terrorist group, the "Black Hand", sent Serbian Gavrilo Princip to assassinate the archduke due to a dispute between the two countries over control of the Bosnian and  Herzegovina regions.

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In 1917, The British intercepted a secret telegram from German Minister Arthur Zimmermann to Mexican Officials. The telegram tried to convince the Mexican country to attack the United States in favor of the Germans and by the end of WW! they would be gifted the territory lost during the Mexican-American war. Although the Mexican government has no intention of invading the U.S., this further shifted anti-German sentiment in the states.