- Rising nationalist sentiments and imperial ambitions among European nations created tensions and rivalries. Each country sought to expand its influence, leading to conflicts over territories, resources, and power.
2. Militarism:
- European nations engaged in an arms race, building up their military strength and preparing for potential conflicts. The glorification of military power and the arms buildup created a climate of fear and distrust.
3. Alliances and Entanglements:
- A complex web of alliances formed between European countries. When one nation went to war, its allies were often drawn in, escalating conflicts and expanding their scale.
4. Unresolved Territorial Disputes:
- Long-standing territorial disputes, such as Alsace-Lorraine between France and Germany, remained unresolved and contributed to tensions.
5. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, provided the spark that ignited the conflict.
6. Failure of Diplomacy:
- Despite attempts at diplomatic negotiations, tensions between the major European powers reached a breaking point, and diplomacy failed to resolve the underlying issues.
7. Mutual Misperceptions and Mistrust:
- Mistrust and miscalculations by European leaders led to misunderstandings and escalations. Each country believed it had the upper hand, underestimating the strength and determination of its opponents.
It's important to note that while these factors contributed to the outbreak of war, the situation was complex, with many other factors and events playing a role.