Final answer:
Austria-Hungary's response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was seen as harsh, leading to the outbreak of World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
The response of Austria-Hungary to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was seen by many as harsh. Austria-Hungary issued a list of demands to Serbia, demanding an investigation and measures to prevent future attacks. When Serbia agreed to nearly every demand, it seemed like the conflict could be resolved diplomatically. However, Germany pushed Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, leading to the outbreak of World War I.