World War I led to Socialism

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, presumptive heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, occurred on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo Serbia when they were mortally wounded by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian radical.  Austria-Hungary was furious and, with Germany’s support, declared war on Serbia on July 28. Within days, Germany declared war on Russia—Serbia’s ally—and invaded France via Belgium, which then caused Britain to declare war on Germany.

The Industrial Revolution created great economic opportunity and raw materials were needed. The European countries had gained territory and raw materials through wars of expansion. They were now about to go back to war with each other.

Entangled alliances created two competing groups - In 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary allied against Russia. In 1882, Italy joined their alliance (The Triple Alliance).

Russia responded in 1894 by allying with France. Great Britain had a mutual defense treaty with France. Serbia had a treaty with France

After Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia, Germany took their side.  France and Great Britain declared war on Austria-Hungary and Germany. Russia joined in against Germany.

The US entered World War II in 1917, 3 years after the war began. Germany had torpedoed the Lusitania that carried 100 US citizens. At that point Britain and France were losing the war, so the US entered it to save their allies. The US and the allies won in 1918.

https://www.history.com/news/did-franz-ferdinands-assassination-cause-world-war-i

King George V of Great Britain, Czar Nicholas of Russia and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany were Queen Victoria’s grandchildren. Victoria had nine children and 42 grandchildren. Eventually, seven of them sat on European thrones in Russia, Greece, Romania, Britain, Germany, Spain and Norway—and all would take sides during World War I with disastrous consequences. By the war’s end, the monarchies of Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia had fallen.

https://www.history.com/news/queen-victoria-grandchildren-matchmaking-wwi

World War I was a costly mistake caused by Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary. He used the assassination of his heir to launch an invasion of Serbia. It would have been better to just arrest and execute the assassin for murder. But Franz Joseph I wanted to invade Serbia. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria

World War I destroyed Europe and Russia. World War I killed more people (9 million combatants and 5 million civilians) and cost more money ($186 billion in direct costs and another $151 billion in indirect costs) than any previous war in history.

It caused the end of British colonial expansion, the Communist take-over of Russia and set up Germany for World War II. The Great Depression started in Europe in 1918. The cost of World War I ruined the European and Russian economies.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader