← Unit 7: Global Conflict (c. 1900–present)
Causes of World War I
A tangled system of alliances, militarism, imperialism, and nationalism combined to turn a regional assassination into a global war.
Overview
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the spark, but underlying causes (M-A-I-N: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism) explain why a regional crisis escalated into a world war involving colonies and allies across multiple continents.
Practice Quiz
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Why is the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand often described as a 'spark' rather than the root cause of World War I?