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Causes of World War I | ISC Class 11 History

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Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Four long-term causes (rival alliances, imperial competition, militarism and nationalism) were tightened by crises from 1908 to 1914: Bosnia, Agadir and the Balkan Wars. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 and the July Crisis turned them into a general war by 4 August 1914.

Understand Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo

Alliance system. Dual Alliance (1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary); Triple Alliance (1882, Italy joins); Franco-Russian Alliance (1894); Britain left isolation through the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902), Entente Cordiale with France (1904) and Anglo-Russian Entente (1907), forming the Triple Entente. Effects: two armed camps, a local quarrel could draw in all powers, risk-taking (the German "blank cheque" to Austria in 1914), and military plans tied to alliances. Caution: alliances were defensive on paper; Italy stayed out in 1914 and joined the Entente in 1915.

Imperialism. Colonial rivalry; Germany's "place in the sun" under Wilhelm II; Moroccan crises of 1905-06 and 1911 where Britain backed France; the Berlin-Baghdad railway alarmed Britain and Russia.

Militarism. The naval race (German Navy Laws from 1898; HMS Dreadnought in 1906); conscript armies; war plans such as the Schlieffen Plan to defeat France through Belgium; generals believing war short and inevitable.

Nationalism. Pan-Slavism (Russia as Slav protector); Serbian dream of a South Slav state threatening Austria-Hungary; French desire to recover Alsace-Lorraine; aggressive patriotism.

Crises. Bosnian crisis (1908-09): Austria annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina; Serbia furious; Russia backed down when Germany supported Austria. Agadir (1911): Germany sent the gunboat Panther; Britain warned Germany; Germany accepted part of French Congo. First Balkan War (1912-13): the Balkan League drove Turkey out; Albania created, blocking Serbia's sea access. Second Balkan War (1913): Bulgaria lost; Serbia grew and alarmed Austria.

Sarajevo (28 June 1914). Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb linked to the Black Hand.

July Crisis. Germany's unconditional support (5-6 July); Austria's ultimatum (23 July) and war on Serbia (28 July); Russia mobilised; Germany declared war on Russia (1 August) and France (3 August), invaded Belgium; Britain, guarantor of Belgian neutrality (Treaty of London 1839), declared war on 4 August 1914.

Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo: key facts

Alliances
1879Dual
1882Triple Alliance
1894Franco-Russian
19021904, 1907 Britain's agreements
Triple Entente
Crises
1908-09Bosnia
1911Agadir
1912-13Balkan Wars
28 June 1914 Sarajevo
July Crisis dates
  • 23 July ultimatum
  • 28 July Austria declares war
  • 1 August Germany-Russia
  • 3 August Germany-France
  • 4 August Britain
Four long-term causes
  • Alliances
  • Imperialism
  • Militarism
  • Nationalism

How to answer Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo questions

Expect 4-mark long-term causes and an 8-mark linking of causes with the July Crisis.

  1. 1State each long-term cause with dates and examples.
  2. 2Order the crises from 1908 to 1914.
  3. 3Narrate Sarajevo and the July Crisis day by day.
  4. 4Link causes to show how crises tightened them.

Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo 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.

Chain reaction

Suppose a local quarrel between two neighbours drags in two larger neighbours each pledged to defend them.

Which feature of 1914 does this model?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Alliance commitments turned a local dispute into a wider war.
  2. Each power feared being attacked.

Answer: The alliance system.

Memory hook: A pledge links quarrels.

Days to war

Suppose a student counts days from the ultimatum on 23 July 1914 to Austria's declaration of war on 28 July, and from Sarajevo on 28 June to the same declaration.

Find both gaps.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 28 - 23 = 5 days.
  2. 28 June to 28 July = 30 days.

Answer: 5 days and 30 days.

Memory hook: Subtract the dates.

Tricks to remember Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo

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

  • AIMN

    Alliances, Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism.

    Use it when: Long-term causes.

  • Bosnia Agadir Balkan Sarajevo

    BABS: the four crises in order.

    Use it when: Crises.

Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo: solved examples

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

Example 1: Entente · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Triple Entente consisted of:
(a) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
(b) Britain, France, Russia
(c) Britain, Germany, Japan
(d) France, Italy, Russia

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Completed in 1907.

Answer: (b) Britain, France, Russia.

Example 2: Sarajevo · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Who was assassinated at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, by whom, and linked to which society?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.
  2. Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb.
  3. The Black Hand.

Answer: Franz Ferdinand; Gavrilo Princip; the Black Hand.

Example 3: Alliance system · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain how the alliance system contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Europe split into the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
  2. Each side feared encirclement or attack.
  3. A local quarrel could draw in all powers; Germany's blank cheque encouraged Austria.
  4. Military plans tied to alliances made mobilisation trigger others.

Answer: Two armed camps turned a local dispute into a general war.

Example 4: Crises · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the importance of the Bosnian and Agadir crises in the build-up to 1914.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Bosnia: Austria annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia was furious and Russia was humiliated.
  2. Russia resolved not to back down again.
  3. Agadir: Germany sent the Panther and Britain warned it; Germany accepted part of French Congo.
  4. The Entente drew closer and Germany felt humiliated.

Answer: Bosnia increased Serb-Russian hostility to Austria; Agadir tightened the Entente and Germany's resentment.

Example 5: Source work · 5 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract and answer.
Austria sent Serbia a harsh ultimatum on 23 July 1914 and declared war on 28 July although Serbia accepted most terms. Germany had promised unconditional support on 5-6 July.
(i) What name is given to Germany's promise? [1]
(ii) What does the extract suggest about Austria's intentions? [2]
(iii) Which other powers were drawn in by 4 August, and why? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) The "blank cheque".
  2. (ii) Austria wanted war with Serbia rather than a settlement, since war was declared though most terms were accepted.
  3. (iii) Russia, France and Britain, through alliances and the invasion of Belgium whose neutrality Britain had guaranteed.

Answer: (i) Blank cheque (ii) Austria sought war (iii) Russia, France and Britain through alliances and Belgium.

Where students lose marks in Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo

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

  • Mistake: Blaming alliances alone

    Other causes are missed.

    Do this: Link alliances with imperialism, militarism and nationalism.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Mixing the crisis order

    Bosnia and Agadir swapped.

    Do this: Bosnia 1908-09; Agadir 1911.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling Italy a belligerent in 1914

    Italy stayed out and joined the Entente in 1915.

    Do this: State that Italy stayed neutral initially.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Give dates for alliances.
  • List crises in order with one line each.
  • Use neutral wording on Serbia and Austria.
  • Link causes in the conclusion.

Practice questions on Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo

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

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The Schlieffen Plan aimed to defeat:
    (a) Russia first
    (b) France quickly through Belgium
    (c) Britain at sea
    (d) Serbia first

    Hint

    Germany's war plan.

    Answer

    (b) France quickly through Belgium.

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Explain the role of nationalism in the origins of the war.

    Hint

    Pan-Slavism, Serbia, France.

    Answer

    Pan-Slavism made Russia protector of Balkan Slavs; Serbian nationalism threatened Austria-Hungary; French revanche aimed to recover Alsace-Lorraine; aggressive patriotism made compromise seem weak.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Find how many years elapsed between the Dual Alliance (1879) and the outbreak of war (1914) and between the Triple Entente completion (1907) and the war.

    Hint

    Subtract.

    Answer

    1914 - 1879 = 35 years; 1914 - 1907 = 7 years.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe the Balkan Wars and their effect on Serbia and Austria-Hungary.

    Hint

    Balkan League, Albania.

    Answer

    In 1912-13 the Balkan League drove Turkey out of most of its European lands; Albania was created at Austria's insistence, blocking Serbia's sea access; in 1913 Bulgaria lost the second war; Serbia grew larger and more confident, alarming Austria-Hungary.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): Britain entered the war on 4 August 1914.
    Reason (R): Germany invaded Belgium, whose neutrality Britain had guaranteed.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Treaty of London 1839.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

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.Triple Alliance year?Show answer

    1882.

  2. 2.Sarajevo date?Show answer

    28 June 1914.

  3. 3.Britain declared war on?Show answer

    4 August 1914.

  4. 4.German war plan?Show answer

    Schlieffen Plan.

  5. 5.1839 treaty guaranteed?Show answer

    Belgian neutrality.

Causes of World War I: Alliances, Crises and Sarajevo: frequently asked questions

Was Italy in the Central Powers?

Italy joined the Entente in 1915.

What was Weltpolitik?

Germany's world policy under Wilhelm II.

Who was the assassin?

Gavrilo Princip.