M.A.I.N. cause of world war 1

Militarism:

A strong emphasis on military power and preparedness, which led to an arms race between European nations, creating tension and a readiness for war

Alliances

There were several treaties between countries, where an attack on one nation would trigger a chain reaction of declarations of war from their allies. This created a chain-reaction effect that soon involved most of the continent in the war.

Imperialism

There was intense competition between nations to acquire colonies and control overseas territories, particularly in Africa and Asia, leading to friction and rivalries. The Berlin Conference was an attempt to prevent war over the colonization of Africa.

Nationalism

There was intense patriotic sentiment within nations, often fueling ethnic tensions and the desire for territorial expansion. Additionally, historic rivalries played a role as well. In the case of the French who were embarrassed by their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, they wanted revenge against the Germans.

The assassination of the Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist was the match that lit the tinderbox, setting the war off, but it was not the main cause of the war.