World War One

Causes of World War I

• Nationalism: Strong sense of national identity and desire for power led to tensions between European nations.
• Imperialism: Competition for colonies and resources fueled rivalries between major powers.
• Militarism: Increase in military spending and arms race between nations, especially Germany and Britain.
• Alliances: Formation of two opposing alliances (Triple Entente and Triple Alliance) increased tensions and likelihood of war.
• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: This event sparked the immediate outbreak of the war in 1914.

Exam Tip: Be able to explain the interplay of these key factors and how they contributed to the outbreak of World War I.