There were many causes of WW1. These causes can be summarized in the acronym M.A.N.I.A Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination.$^4$
<aside> <img src="/icons/alert_gray.svg" alt="/icons/alert_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Militarism is the belief that a country requires a strong military to defend and promote its own interest.$^4$
</aside>
Countries began to rapidly militarize. They started to spend more and more. Around this time, new military technology was being developed. Many countries used their new military strength to gain new colonies. This rapid militarisation resulted in a heightened tension in Europe. As a result, an arms and industrialisation race began. This resulted in a extremely competitive race for power$^4$
<aside> <img src="/icons/alert_gray.svg" alt="/icons/alert_gray.svg" width="40px" /> An alliance is an agreement between two or more countries in order to secure common interests.$^5$
</aside>
There were two alliances. The Triple Entente/Allied Powers and the Triple Alliance/Central Powers. The Triple Entente consisted of France, United Kingdom, and Russia. The Central Powers consists of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy$^a$, and the Ottoman Empire(they joined later). These two alliances began to compete. The Central Powers was surrounded by the Triple Entente countries. The alliances were defensive, meaning that in the case of a military conflict they will support each other. The two alliances had different political ideas and had a general distaste toward each other. This led to Europe being divided.
$^a$see Italy page.
<aside> <img src="/icons/alert_gray.svg" alt="/icons/alert_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Pride in ones own country. This usually shows when a country or group of people comes together for a shared desire or interest.$^4$
</aside>
Many countries, for example Serbia, wanted independence. The rise of extremist nationalism only added to the tension of Europe. Many people believed that their own culture was superior to others. People also began defining themselves based on their country. However in the case of empires, people defined themselves based of off ethnicity. Citizens became very passionate about war. Ethnic groups within empires wanted to rule themselves.$^4$
<aside> <img src="/icons/alert_gray.svg" alt="/icons/alert_gray.svg" width="40px" /> The practice of expanding the power and domination of a counrty through direct or indirect territorial acquisition.$^6$
</aside>
Countries fought over the colonial land. This furthered tensions. The colonies provided the countries with more resources to create weapons and train more soldiers for war. These resources made these countries wealthier. Tensions increased.
<aside> <img src="/icons/alert_gray.svg" alt="/icons/alert_gray.svg" width="40px" /> The pre-meditated murder of a person.$^4$
</aside>
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian Black Hand. The Black Hand wanted to gain full Serbian independence through any means necessary. This is considered to be the tipping point for European tension and started the domino effect that caused the World War.