Who was Archduke Franz Ferdinand and why was his killing significant? and which countries fought against which in WW1? - Worksheet - Year 6

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His assassination on the 28th of June 1914 was a pivotal event in history, as it set off a chain reaction leading to the outbreak of the First World War. The killing of the Archduke by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo is widely recognised as the immediate cause of the conflict, as it led to a series of diplomatic crises and alliances being triggered. This eventually drew in the major powers of the time into a large-scale war that lasted until 1918.

In World War I, the main countries involved were divided into two alliances. On one side were the Allied Powers, primarily consisting of France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and later on, the United States. They fought against the Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. The war was characterised by trench warfare and resulted in significant loss of life and changes to the political map of Europe. The impact of the world wars on Britain was profound, affecting its economy, society, and standing on the world stage, leading to the eventual decline of the British Empire.