Question

The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand was the catalyst that started World War I because

a. His death brought to a head the tensions underlying the alliances in eastern and western Europe
b. He had been a unifying force between Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian empire
c. His death caused Germany to rush to the defense of Serbia
d. His death ended plans for national self-determination within the Austro-Hungarian empire

Answer 1

The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand was the catalyst that started World War I because "a. His death brought to a head the tensions underlying the alliances in eastern and western Europe," since it was actually the complicated system of alliances that really "set off" WWI.