Which two factors are cited as major causes of World War I?

Which two factors are cited as major causes of World War I?

• A. The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Increased Nationalism
• B. Economic Competition and Alliance Systems
• C. Militarism and Imperialism
• D. Territorial Disputes and Propaganda

Answer: (A)

A spark plus a powerful currents of national pride is at the heart of this answer. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand created an immediate crisis that set off a chain reaction among Europe’s alliance systems, pulling many nations into war once mobilization began. At the same time, heightened nationalism across the continent—competition between nations, pride in one’s own group, and a belief in national destiny—made governments and peoples more willing to support aggressive actions and to see war as a means to defend or advance national interests. This combination—a triggering event plus a strong nationalist mood—best explains why these two factors are cited as major causes. While militarism and alliance systems are also important pieces of the WWI puzzle, the pairing of a decisive spark with rising nationalism best accounts for why the conflict escalated so rapidly after the initial crisis.

A spark plus a powerful currents of national pride is at the heart of this answer. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand created an immediate crisis that set off a chain reaction among Europe’s alliance systems, pulling many nations into war once mobilization began. At the same time, heightened nationalism across the continent—competition between nations, pride in one’s own group, and a belief in national destiny—made governments and peoples more willing to support aggressive actions and to see war as a means to defend or advance national interests. This combination—a triggering event plus a strong nationalist mood—best explains why these two factors are cited as major causes.

While militarism and alliance systems are also important pieces of the WWI puzzle, the pairing of a decisive spark with rising nationalism best accounts for why the conflict escalated so rapidly after the initial crisis.