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Which event contributed to the outbreak of World War I in Europe?

The assassination of an Austro-Hungarian archduke by a Serbian national
The termination of the Anglo-French alliance by the French government
The destabilization of the Russian government by Bolshevik leaders
The destruction of a British passenger ship by a German submarine

User Hammad
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Final answer:

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist was the event that contributed to the outbreak of World War I, triggering a series of alliance-driven declarations of war among European powers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Event that Led to World War I

The specific event which contributed to the outbreak of World War I in Europe was the assassination of an Austro-Hungarian archduke. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist associated with a group seeking greater Serbian independence. The assassination fueled tensions in a Europe already strained by nationalistic sentiments and alliance obligations. This ultimately prompted Austria-Hungary to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, and upon its partial rejection, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This act triggered a chain reaction due to the complex network of alliances in place, with Russia mobilizing in support of Serbia, followed by Germany declaring war on Russia, and subsequent declarations of war by other European powers, which spiraled into the full-scale conflict known as World War I.

User Vijay Mohan
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