What was the main cause of World War I?

The main cause of World War I was the complex system of alliances and rivalries between European powers, particularly the alliance system that divided Europe into two opposing camps: the Triple Entente (comprising France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and the Triple Alliance (comprising Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy). The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914 was the immediate trigger for the war, but underlying tensions, such as militarism, nationalism, imperialism, and competition for colonies and resources, had been building for years.

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