Question 41 Which event is considered the inciting incident that led to the start of World War I? The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand The Sinking of the Lusitania The Invasion of Poland

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, is widely recognized as the spark that ignited World War I. This pivotal event not only led to a series of diplomatic tensions and ultimatums but also triggered the web of alliances that involved multiple nations, quickly escalating into a full-blown conflict. In practical terms, the assassination highlighted the tangled geopolitical landscape of early 20th-century Europe, where nationalism, militarism, and colonial rivalry were primed for explosive conflict. The aftermath saw the transformation of global alliances, ultimately leading to the unprecedented scale of warfare and deep societal changes across nations.