Explain the main causes of the First World War, including its immediate cause.
How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.
1 · Open with the idea. The First World War (1914 to 1918) grew out of long rivalries; a single murder lit the spark.
2 · Imperialist rivalry. No free colonies were left; Germany's industry, navy, Kiel Canal and Berlin to Baghdad railway alarmed Britain.
3 · System of alliances. The Triple Alliance (1882) and the Triple Entente (1907) split Europe into two armed camps.
4 · Arms race and distrust. Rivals built deadly weapons, and propaganda spread fear and hatred.
5 · Balkan nationalism. The Pan Slav movement, backed by Russia, clashed with Austria, which annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908.
6 · Immediate cause. Archduke Francis Ferdinand was shot at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914; Austria declared war on Serbia, and the alliances pulled in the rest.
7 · Close in one line. The alliances turned a local quarrel into a world war.
Scoring tip: Keep the immediate cause separate from the long-term causes. Examiners give a mark for each, so label them.
