WWI Question Response

What were the causes, both regional as well as political for beginning of The Great War? Explain your answer using factual evidence from the text.
               The Great War was very much a chain reaction of events that led to a global conflict. A main cause would include the fact that many great powers of Europe were forming alliances with one another for protection and support. "These alliances were intended to promote peace by creating powerful combinations that no one would dare attack"(Elser, 454). Through these treaties, two major sides formed. One included of Austria-Hungary and Germany; the Central Powers, as they were to be called. The other alliance was France, Britain, and Russia, they were known as the Allies. In the years to come, other countries chose a side and became a part of the war. Competition was a large factor of the formation of the war. Countries began to prepare their armies and navies and were on their toes for any attack that would be brought upon them by another country. Another factor of rising tension would be nationalism. Nationalism held great strength in countries such as Germany and France. Germans were prideful in their defenses while France was revengeful and wanted to regain their border province. Russians were united in nationalism as well. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand was almost like an excuse for war. Once the archduke and his wife were killed in Sarajevo, Austria declared war on Serbia. Due to the previous treaties made, many countries were linked to this war and were forcefully dragged in. The many ties and links created made the two super alliances go head to head in epic proportions.