About this quiz
What the Causes of World War I Quiz covers
This free quiz tests how well students understand why World War I broke out in 1914. It covers the four long-term causes historians group under the acronym MAIN, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that turned decades of tension into war. Questions use real photographs, maps, charts, political cartoons and quotes from the time, and every answer comes with instant feedback.
- MMilitarism
- AAlliances
- IImperialism
- NNationalism
- +The assassination in Sarajevo
Foundations
Plain-language questions on the key causes, events and people, with map and photo questions.
Deep Dive
Source analysis, cause and consequence, and how historians disagree about who was to blame.
For teachers
Assign it with a free class code and scores come straight to you. Open For teachers in the quiz for pre/post tests and a printable answer key.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the Causes of World War I Quiz free?
Yes. The quiz is free to play and free to assign. Students don’t need an account, and teachers only need a free class code if they want results sent to them.
What grade levels is it for?
It has two levels. Foundations is written for Grades 6–8, and Deep Dive is for Grades 9–12. Students pick a level on the start screen, and teachers can set the level in the assignment link.
How long does it take?
About 15–20 minutes. Study mode has 15 questions with hints and explanations. Challenge mode has 12 timed questions for points. Each round draws a fresh set from a bank of about 100 questions for each level.
Can teachers see their students’ results?
Yes. Get a free class code on the Teachers page and add it to the assignment link. When students finish, they type their first name and press Send to my teacher. Your private results page shows each student’s best score, their skills, the class average and the most-missed questions. Results are deleted automatically after 180 days.
Is there a printable version with an answer key?
Yes. Open For teachers in the quiz, choose the level, topics and number of questions, and select Print quiz + answer key. Map questions that need clicking are online only.
What were the main causes of World War I?
Historians often group the long-term causes as MAIN: militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism. The short-term trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, which set off a chain of declarations of war through the alliance system.
Try a few
Sample questions and answers
Show 3 sample questions from the quiz
What acronym is used to remember the four long-term causes of World War I?
- MAIN
- FATE
- WARS
- PINE
Answer: MAIN. It stands for Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the short-term cause.
What was the “Scramble for Africa”?
- A race between African nations to build factories and railways
- European powers racing to claim African land in the late 1800s
- A German plan to reach France by marching through North Africa
- A contest between African kingdoms for gold and trade routes
Answer: European powers racing to claim African land in the late 1800s. The rivalry it created between the powers helped set the stage for World War I.
The assassination of which figure in June 1914 was the immediate spark for World War I?
- Kaiser Wilhelm II
- Emperor Franz Joseph
- Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Tsar Nicholas II
Answer: Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was shot in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.