Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Causes of the First World War

Driving Question: What caused World War I?

Military forces grew, alliances solidified, and tensions rose across continents. When war finally came, it was no accident; it was the result of systems pushed to the breaking point.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Use the historical thinking practice of contextualization to understand the time, place, and circumstances under which the First World War began.
  2. Use the historical thinking practice of causation to evaluate the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I.
  3. Use image-analysis skills to assess how propaganda was used in World War I.
STEP 1

Opener: Causes of the First World War

STEP 2

A War to End All Wars

Unpack the tangled web of alliances, rivalries, and political choices that led to war in 1914. This section helps you sort through long-term causes and immediate sparks.

STEP 3

The First World War

World War I didn’t stay confined to Europe. Explore how deeply interconnected the world already was by 1914, and how those connections turned a regional crisis into a global war.

STEP 4

Closer: Causes of the First World War

Now that you've explored the causes of World War I, take a closer look at how those causes were communicated to the public. Propaganda posters reveal what leaders wanted people to believe—and why.

Extension Materials
Checkmark Alert Banner
Examine a range of sources to better understand the emotional and human impact of the First World War.