Dates and events of WW1/ Major alliances and their members

Question 1

1. When did WWI begin?

Answer 1

Start date: 28 July 1914

Question 2

2. What triggered WWI?

Answer 2

Immediate trigger: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip a Bosnian Serb nationalist.
Result: Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and after receiving support from Germany

Question 3

3.Triple Entente (Allied Powers at the start)

Answer 3

France, Russia, Britain (United Kingdom)

Question 4

4. Triple Alliance (Central Powers at the start)

Answer 4

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy (Note: Italy later left the Triple Alliance and joined the Allies in 1915)

Question 5

5. When did Australia join WWI?

Answer 5

Date joined: 4 August 1914 (the same day Britain declared war on Germany)

Question 6

6. Why did Australia join WWI?

Answer 6

As part of the British Empire Australia automatically joined the war when Britain did.
First major involvement: Gallipoli Campaign, April 1915

Question 7

7. How did alliances contribute to the escalation of WWI?

Answer 7

Chain reaction: The system of alliances meant that a conflict between two countries quickly involved many others.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Russia (ally of Serbia) mobilized.
Germany (ally of Austria-Hungary) declared war on Russia and then France.
Britain declared war on Germany after it invaded Belgium.

Question 8

8. What was the effect

Answer 8

Effect: A regional conflict turned into a global war because the alliances obligated countries to defend each other.