Final Answer:
The SPARK or immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. This event set off a chain reaction of diplomatic tensions, alliances, and mobilizations that ultimately led to the outbreak of war. The assassination was significant because it triggered a series of events that escalated into a global conflict involving major world powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand served as the immediate catalyst for the outbreak of World War I. The archduke's assassination in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a nationalist group, heightened existing tensions among European powers. Austria-Hungary, seeking retribution against Serbia for the assassination, issued an ultimatum with harsh terms. When Serbia's response did not fully comply with the demands, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
The importance of this event lies in its role as a trigger for the complex web of alliances and treaties among European nations. The declaration of war on Serbia prompted a chain reaction of alliances being activated. Russia, bound by treaty to Serbia, began mobilizing its forces. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia, and soon after, on France. As Germany marched through Belgium to reach France, Britain, allied with Belgium, entered the war. The interconnected system of alliances turned a localized conflict into a global war involving major world powers. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand thus acted as the spark that ignited the powder keg of pre-existing political tensions and military alliances, propelling the world into a devastating conflict.