World-War-One began in 1914 and lasted for four years. Historians have debated over the many causes of this war. This essay will look at the extent to how the alliance system was a cause for the war by looking at how it divided Europe into 2 antagonistic power blocs, how the secrecy of alliances led to fear, suspicion and therefore caused crises, and how the alliance system could and did transform the many local disputes into general conflicts. On the hand other, this essay will also evaluate how three other factors, militarism, economic rivalry and domestic issues of European powers were also causes for war. It will be argued, finally, that the alliance system was to a great extent the cause for the Great War.

The alliance system is a major cause for World War One. This is because it led to the division of Europe into two antagonistic power...