Triggering Wwi

World War I was ultimately due to German expansion. As Germany's military strength expanded and its ties with Austria-Hungary grew stronger, it became evident that Germany posed a very probably threat to neighboring countries of Russia and France. Britain who had begun to lose grip of much of its territorial grounds in Africa, had also begun to see Germany as a super-power with the potential of mass invasion. Thus, Britain brought itself into the picture by signing the Entente Cordial and joined France and Russia. To further complicate matters, Russia promised allegiance towards Serbia in the event that it was attacked by the Triple Alliance. Germany's growing army now began to threaten France directly once the nation began its implementation of the Schleiffen Plan. The Great War in itself was essentially triggered by the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. This led to a chain of events which is has come to be called World War I (these events are listed below in chronological order):

Ð'* Austria-Hungary, unsatisfied with Serbia's response to her ultimatum (which in the event was almost entirely placatory: however her jibbing over a couple of minor clauses gave Austria-Hungary her sought-after cue) declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914.

Ð'* Russia, bound by treaty to Serbia, announced mobilization of its vast army in her defense, a slow process that would take around six weeks to complete.

Ð'* Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary by treaty, viewed the Russian mobilization as an act of war against Austria-Hungary, and after scant warning declared war on Russia on 1 August.

Ð'* France, bound by treaty to Russia, found itself at war against Germany and, by extension, on Austria-Hungary following a German declaration on 3 August. Germany was swift in invading neutral Belgium so as to reach Paris by the shortest possible route.

Ð'* Britain, allied to France by a more loosely worded treaty which placed a "moral obligation" upon her to defend France, declared war against Germany on 4 August. Her reason for entering the conflict lay in another direction: she was obligated to defend neutral Belgium by the terms of a 75-year old treaty. With Germany's invasion of Belgium on 4

...