The Role of Alliances in Causing World War I
About This Worksheet
This worksheet explores the system of alliances before WWI and how they contributed to the outbreak of the war, using a timeline and chronological understanding.
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The Role of Alliances in Causing World War I
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Introduction to Alliances
Source A: Historical overview of alliances
'European countries formed alliances to protect themselves from potential enemies. These alliances made Europe more interconnected but also more fragile, as a conflict involving one country could quickly involve others.' Provenance: Summary from a modern history textbook, 2020.
Key Events in the Alliance System
Source B: Timeline of Alliances and Key Events
1912: The Balkan Wars increase tensions among European powers. 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand leads Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. July 1914: Austria-Hungary's declaration triggers the mobilization of alliances, leading to WWI. Provenance: Chronology from a history timeline, 2021.
Analysis of Alliance Impact
Source C: Historian View
'The alliance system created a web of commitments that made it difficult for countries to avoid war once conflict started. It turned a local dispute into a continent-wide war.' Provenance: Historian analysis, 2019.
Summary and Reflection
Reflect on the role of alliances in causing WWI.
'While alliances were meant to provide security, they ultimately contributed to the scale and speed of the outbreak of war.' Provenance: Student reflection prompt.
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Details
- Created
- 1/1/2026
- Updated
- 1/1/2026
- Type
- worksheet