What major conflict was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in June 1914 was a pivotal event that directly led to the outbreak of World War I. His murder, carried out by a nationalist associated with Serbian groups, heightened tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which, when not fully accepted, led to Austria-Hungary declaring war. This localized conflict quickly expanded as nations honored alliances, leading to a full-scale war involving many of the world's great powers at the time.

In contrast, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War were later conflicts that arose for different reasons and involved different geopolitical circumstances. World War II was influenced by the Treaty of Versailles and the subsequent rise of totalitarian regimes, while the Korean and Vietnam Wars were products of Cold War dynamics and the struggle against communism in Asia. Thus, the direct link between Franz Ferdinand's assassination and the escalation into a global conflict firmly ties the event to the origins of World War I.