CLEP US History II

Answer: B - A web of alliances drew various European factions into the dispute that eventually became World War I. In the past, historians misattributed too much causality to the web of alliances, advocating that it almost single-handedly led to the war. However, general thought in the field has evolved and diminished the weight the web of alliances was given in past studies. Nevertheless, the web of alliances did play a pivotal role in determining who entered the conflict and the timing of their entry. Austria-Hungary and Serbia were the initial combatants. Germany soon joined on Austria-Hungary’s side, followed by Russia on Serbia’s side. Russia’s ally France joined next, and they were joined by Great Britain after Germany attacked neutral Belgium. Then, the Ottoman Empire aligned with Germany, and Japan joined the conflict in support of their ally, Great Britain.