World War I had several underlying causes that created a tense atmosphere in Europe. These included militarism, with nations rapidly expanding their armies and navies; alliances, where complex treaty systems meant a local conflict could quickly draw in multiple countries; imperialism, as nations competed for colonies and global influence; and nationalism, a fervent pride in one’s country that fueled rivalries and desires for independence. The immediate trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June 1914, which, due to the existing alliance system, rapidly escalated into a full-scale global conflict

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