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First World War, Versailles and League ICSE Class 10

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History & CivicsICSE Class 10 · The First World War

The First World War: Causes, the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations (ICSE Class 10 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The First World War (1914-18) was caused by aggressive nationalism, imperialism, the armament race, the division of Europe into the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, and, immediately, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) punished Germany; the League of Nations (1920) was founded to preserve peace.

Four long-term causes built up tension, Sarajevo in 1914 lit the spark, and the war ended with Versailles (1919) and the League of Nations (1920).

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

1. Long-term causes.

  • *Aggressive nationalism:* France wanted revenge on Germany and Alsace-Lorraine, lost in 1871. Pan-Slavism: Serbia, backed by Russia, wanted to unite the Slavs, many under Austria-Hungary, which angered it by annexing Bosnia-Herzegovina (1908). Pan-Germanism wanted a union of German speakers.
  • *Imperialism:* Britain and France had vast empires; newly unified Germany wanted its 'place in the sun'. Moroccan crises and the Berlin-Baghdad railway raised tension.
  • *Armament race:* conscription and large armies; the Anglo-German naval race (Dreadnought, 1906); rising military spending.
  • *Division of Europe:* Triple Alliance (1882: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and Triple Entente (1907: Britain, France, Russia, from the Franco-Russian alliance, the Entente Cordiale of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907). A quarrel between two could draw in all; secret treaties increased mistrust.

2. Sarajevo crisis (immediate cause). On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir of Austria-Hungary, and his wife were assassinated at Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a young Bosnian Serb. Austria-Hungary sent Serbia a harsh ultimatum, which Serbia accepted only in part, and declared war on 28 July. Russia mobilised, Germany declared war on Russia and France and invaded Belgium; Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914.

3. Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919). Drawn up at the Paris Peace Conference, dominated by Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George and Clemenceau. Clauses affecting Germany: acceptance of war guilt; reparations fixed in 1921 at 6,600 million pounds; army limited to 1,00,000 men without conscription; navy limited to 15,000 men and few ships, no submarines; no air force; the Rhineland demilitarised and occupied by Allied troops for 15 years; Alsace-Lorraine to France, Saar coalfields to France for 15 years under the League, loss of all colonies as mandates; no union with Austria. Germans called it a dictated peace.

4. League of Nations. Set up on 10 January 1920 at Geneva; the idea came from Wilson's Fourteen Points. The USA never joined. *Objectives:* maintain peace and security; settle disputes by negotiation and arbitration; reduce armaments; promote economic and social cooperation (health, labour, trade); respect treaties and protect minorities; supervise mandated territories.

Note. Territorial rearrangements across Europe after the war are not tested in 2027.

Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations: key facts

Alliances
Triple Alliance 1882: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy | Triple Entente 1907: Britain, France, Russia
Two camps.
Sarajevo
  • 28 June 1914
  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Princip
  • Austria declares war 28 July
  • Britain 4 August
Dates.
Versailles figures
  • Army 1,00,000 men
  • Navy 15,000 men
  • Reparations 6,600 million pounds
  • Rhineland 15 years
Exact figures.
League
  • Set up 10 January 1920
  • Geneva
  • Wilson's idea
  • USA never joined
Facts.

How to answer Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations questions

Expect causes (4-6 marks), Sarajevo crisis (2-4 marks), Treaty of Versailles terms (4-6 marks) and League objectives (3-4 marks).

  1. 1Name each cause with an example.
  2. 2For Versailles, write exact figures.
  3. 3Do not confuse the League of Nations with the United Nations.
  4. 4For the Sarajevo crisis, give date, assassin and chain of declarations.

Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Rival groups

Suppose two groups in a neighbourhood each agree that if any member is attacked, all must help, and then a quarrel between two children drags in both groups.

Which cause of the war does this resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Two groups of mutual defence.
  2. A local quarrel becomes a larger one.
  3. Alliance system.

Answer: It resembles the division of Europe into the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.

Memory hook: Chain reaction.

Heavy penalty

Imagine a team that loses a match and must pay for all damage, lose its best players and play with a tiny squad, while others who agreed to the rules decide the penalty.

What may the losing team feel, and what does this show about Versailles?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The penalty feels unfair.
  2. Resentment builds.
  3. Germans called it a dictated peace.

Answer: The team would feel resentment, as Germans did about Versailles, which they called a dictated peace.

Memory hook: Harsh terms breed anger.

Tricks to remember Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • N-I-A-D

    Nationalism, Imperialism, Armaments, Division.

    Use it when: Four long-term causes.

  • W-R-A-N-A-R-T

    War guilt, Reparations, Army, Navy, Air force, Rhineland, Territory.

    Use it when: Versailles clauses.

  • 1,00,000 and 15,000

    Army and navy numbers.

    Use it when: Exact figures.

Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Sarajevo · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

What was the Sarajevo crisis? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (1 mark).
  2. 28 June 1914 at Sarajevo (1 mark).

Answer: On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife were assassinated at Sarajevo in Bosnia by Gavrilo Princip, which led to the outbreak of the First World War.

Example 2: League objectives · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State any three objectives of the League of Nations. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Three objectives (3 marks).

Answer: To maintain international peace and security, to settle disputes peacefully by negotiation and arbitration, and to reduce armaments.

Example 3: Aggressive nationalism · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain how aggressive nationalism and imperialism caused the war. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Nationalism (2 marks).
  2. Imperialism (2 marks).

Answer: Aggressive nationalism made nations feel superior: France wanted revenge for Alsace-Lorraine, and Serbia, backed by Russia, wished to unite the Slavs living under Austria-Hungary. Imperialist rivalry for colonies brought Germany, which wanted its place in the sun, into conflict with Britain and France, as in the Moroccan crises, creating mistrust and rival groups.

Example 4: Versailles · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe the terms of the Treaty of Versailles that affected Germany. [6]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. War guilt and reparations (2 marks).
  2. Military limits (2 marks).
  3. Territory and colonies (2 marks).

Answer: Germany had to accept responsibility for the war, with its allies, and pay reparations fixed in 1921 at 6,600 million pounds. Its army was limited to 1,00,000 men without conscription, its navy to 15,000 men and few ships without submarines, and it could not have an air force. The Rhineland was demilitarised and occupied by Allied troops for 15 years. Alsace-Lorraine went to France, the Saar coalfields to France for 15 years under the League, and all colonies were lost as mandates. Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria.

Example 5: Source-based: the signing · 6 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract (written for this page) and answer.

At the Hall of Mirrors the representatives of a defeated nation signed a treaty that limited its army to 1,00,000 men and made it accept responsibility for the war. Many of its citizens later called the agreement a dictated peace.

(i) Name the treaty and the year. [1]
(ii) State the limit on the navy. [1]
(iii) Mention two other terms. [2]
(iv) Why did Germans resent it? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Treaty of Versailles, 1919 (1 mark).
  2. (ii) 15,000 men (1 mark).
  3. (iii) Any two: reparations, loss of colonies, Rhineland (2 marks).
  4. (iv) War guilt, heavy reparations and loss of territory (2 marks).

Answer: (i) The Treaty of Versailles, 1919. (ii) 15,000 men. (iii) Reparations of 6,600 million pounds and the loss of its colonies. (iv) Germans resented the war guilt clause, the heavy reparations and the loss of territory and colonies, and they called it a dictated peace.

Where students lose marks in Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: League and UN confusion

    Writing United Nations for the League.

    Wrong working

    The United Nations was set up in 1920.

    Right working

    The League of Nations was set up in 1920; the UN in 1945.

    Do this: Check the year.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong figures

    Writing 1 lakh for army incorrectly or wrong navy.

    Wrong working

    Army 10,000; navy 1,500.

    Right working

    Army 1,00,000; navy 15,000.

    Do this: Learn both numbers.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Sarajevo as the only cause

    Ignoring long-term causes.

    Wrong working

    Sarajevo was the cause.

    Right working

    It was the immediate cause; the long-term causes were nationalism, imperialism, armaments, alliances.

    Do this: Say immediate.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Writing territorial changes

    Spending time on dropped content.

    Wrong working

    New states of Europe in detail.

    Right working

    Focus on clauses about Germany.

    Do this: Skip territory rearrangements.

    Usually costs: Time.

Exam tips

  • Write both Versailles figures with units.
  • Name the League as formed in 1920 at Geneva.
  • Link each cause to a country example.

Practice questions on Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Name the two alliances that divided Europe before 1914 and their members. [3]

    Hint

    Triple Alliance and Entente.

    Answer

    The Triple Alliance (1882) of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, and the Triple Entente (1907) of Britain, France and Russia.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    When and where was the League of Nations set up? Who proposed the idea? [2]

    Hint

    1920, Geneva, Wilson.

    Answer

    It was set up on 10 January 1920 with its headquarters at Geneva; the idea came from US President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain how the armament race made war more likely. [4]

    Hint

    Fear and suspicion.

    Answer

    Powers built large armies with conscription, and Britain and Germany competed to build the biggest navy, with Britain's Dreadnought of 1906 answered by Germany. Military spending soared. Each country saw the others' preparations as a threat, so fear and suspicion grew, and once a crisis came military plans made quick mobilisation and war more likely.

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Describe the events after the Sarajevo assassination that turned a local crisis into a European war. [5]

    Hint

    Ultimatum, declarations.

    Answer

    Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and sent a harsh ultimatum, which Serbia accepted only in part. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. Russia mobilised to support Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and France and invaded Belgium, and Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August because Belgian neutrality was violated.

  5. Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    "The Treaty of Versailles sowed the seeds of the next war." Evaluate. [6]

    Hint

    Resentment and its use.

    Answer

    The treaty imposed war guilt, heavy reparations, military limits and territorial losses on Germany, who called it a dictated peace. This resentment gave leaders like Hitler a cause by promising to tear up the treaty. The League that was meant to preserve peace was weakened by the absence of major powers such as the USA. The view is largely fair, though other factors such as economic crisis also mattered.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand?Show answer

    Gavrilo Princip.

  2. 2.Which alliance included Italy at first?Show answer

    The Triple Alliance.

  3. 3.What was the army limit for Germany?Show answer

    1,00,000 men.

  4. 4.Where was the League headquartered?Show answer

    Geneva.

  5. 5.Which country never joined the League?Show answer

    The USA.

  6. 6.Who dominated the Paris Peace Conference?Show answer

    Wilson, Lloyd George and Clemenceau.

Causes of the First World War, Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations: frequently asked questions

What was the immediate cause of the First World War?

The Sarajevo assassination on 28 June 1914.

What were Germany's reparations?

6,600 million pounds, fixed in 1921.

What is a mandate?

A colony placed under League supervision.

Why did Britain enter the war?

Germany invaded Belgium, violating its neutrality.