DBQ Essay: What Was the Underlying Cause of World War I?

In this assignment, you will write a Document-Based Question (DBQ) essay addressing the underlying causes of World War I. You have already completed the document analysis separately. Now, use your knowledge of the documents and your understanding of the historical context to construct a well-organized essay that answers the prompt below. Be sure to develop a clear thesis and support your argument with evidence from the documents and your own knowledge.

Evaluate the extent to which alliances, militarism, and imperialism were underlying causes of World War I. In your response, develop an argument that identifies the most significant underlying cause of World War I and support your claim with evidence from the documents and your own knowledge of the period 1870–1914.