Causes of World War I explained to kids

World War I was caused by a variety of factors. These include the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the rise of nationalism, and the growth of the military. In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event sparked a series of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. The rise of nationalism was also a cause of World War I. Nationalism is the belief that your country is better than all others. This feeling led to competition and conflict between countries. The growth of the military was another cause of World War I. Countries began to build up their armies and navies. This led to an arms race, or a competition to have the biggest and best military. All of these factors came together to create the conditions for World War I.