Final answer:
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914, is the scenario that led to the outbreak of World War I. This event caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, which, through a series of alliances, drew in the major European powers into a global conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist is the historical event that is analogous to the metaphor of Serbia bumping into Austria and spilling Austria's pint. This assassination is widely recognized as the immediate cause that triggered the First World War. On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a member of a Serbian nationalist group with ties to the secret society known as The Black Hand, shot and killed the Archduke and his wife during their visit to Sarajevo, setting off a chain reaction among the Great Powers of Europe due to a complex web of alliances and treaties.
Beginnings of World War I
The event led to Austria-Hungary issuing an ultimatum to Serbia, with demands that were rejected. This resulted in Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, drawing in Russia due to their treaty with Serbia. Germany declared war on Russia and France, and with the German invasion of Belgium, Great Britain also entered the war, marking the full escalation into global conflict. The assassination and the ensuing war highlighted the tensions from nationalism, alliances, and imperial ambitions.