When you strike a match against a striker the match ignites almost instantly. It will burn for 6 seconds and it will burn the wood stick for another 2 seconds. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife is like the striker that lit the match. The match lit the fire and it lasted for 4 years and the fire was World War 1. One man's assassination might not have started World War 1. But not for three other reason Militarism, Nationalism and the system of Alliances. Allied to the growing militarism there was an intense nationalism in most of the great powers. This might have been the weakest reason why World War 1 started. Nationalism has been going on for centuries. There have been wars over nationalism before but not one on this scale with so many countries and major world powers. World War 1 was supposed to be the war to end all wars but it did not end all wars as we know now. “This nationalism meant that there was little resistance to war in these countries”. Tonge http://www.historyhome.co.uk/europe/causeww1.htm. …show more content…
This cause was the next worst cause of World War 1. “Over 85% of men of military age in France and 50% in Germany had served in the army or navy”. Tonge http://www.historyhome.co.uk/europe/causeww1.htm. The more money a country had the bigger military they could get. But to get a bigger military they need more people to enlist or to get enlisted. They would need the money to support the army with the rations and clothes. Britain and Germany used the money to compete in the Naval Arms Race. It seriously worsened the relationship between Britain and Germany. But it made a better co-operation between Britain and