Answer the questions based on this picture.

(a) Identify the event depicted in the picture.

(b) Mention how this event became the immediate cause of the First World War.

(c) Name any four major European nations who were at War in 1914.

(a) The picture shows the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Austria and his wife at Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princep, an Austrian subject.

(b) On 28 June, 1914, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Austria and his wife were assassinated at Sarajevo, the Capital City of Bosnia.

1. Though the assassin, Gavrilo Princep was an Austrian subject, the assassination had been planned in Serbia by a secret society of patriotic terrorists called 'Black Hand'.
2. Serbia was blamed for Archduke's assassination.
3. Austria presumed that Princep and fellow conspirators had received their guns and bombs in the Serbian Capital with the help of Serbian officials.
4. Austria sent a stiff ultimatum to Serbia for apprehending the criminals and handing them over to Austrian government.
5. She sought a ban on all anti-Austrian publications, anti-Austrian schools and anti-Austrian meetings.
6. They were also required to take steps to suppress all revolutionary movements against the territorial integrity of the Austrian Government.
7. The Serbian government refused to accept some of the demands of the ultimatum on the ground that they involved violation of its sovereignty, i.e., its authority to govern itself.
8. Austria declared war on Serbia on 28 July, 1914.
9. Russia supported Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and Great Britain declared war on Germany.
10. Italy left the Triple Alliance and joined the war against Germany.

Thus, the First World War began.

(c) The four major European nations who were at War in 1914 were Austria, Germany, France and Britain.