Causes of the Great War

The Great War, also known as World War I, was a war between the Triple Alliance of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy and the Slavs, Russia, France, Britain, and the United States of America. Some say the simple cause for this war was the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Serbian terrorist group Black Hand, however, cause for this war were anchored in hostility between all major European countries, with the murder just being the first step.
First of all, all European countries feared to loose their dominance, wherefore none of them really opposed a direct war to settle their fear. Britain was scared that Russia and France would attack their colonies abroad, wherefore they sided with them against Germany, who threatened Britain's dominance over the oceans. France also worried about Germany's power, while Germany worried about Russia's growing military power. Germany wanted a war with Russia rather sooner than later, so that they would be able to beat Russia before it became too powerful.
The start of the war began with Serbians killing Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, on his political visit to the slavic states. Srbs had feared that Austria-Hungary wanted to take over their nation, so they believed killing their heir to the throne would unsettle them politically and socially. As a result, Austro-Hungarians were enraged and sent the Serbs an ultamitum, not accepting any response. Therefore, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Germany backed them because they wanted to fight Russia, who was one of the Serbs closest suppoerters. Soon after, Germany declared war on Russia and France, attacking France first, hoping to beat them at the west front before advancing to the east front, where Austria-Hungary was supposed to hold up the Russians. Later, the war turned racist from Austro-Hungarian hate for the slavs and women and even children were slaughtered on the streets. Later into the war, towards its end, the United States backed France and Russia because thez had loaned them money and were afraid that if Germany won, they wouldn't get this money back.