Which of the following factors led to greater tensions before WW1?

The factor that led to greater tensions before World War I was primarily the alliances among major powers. In the years leading up to the war, various countries formed complex networks of treaties and alliances that were intended to provide security. However, these alliances also meant that a conflict involving one country could quickly escalate into a larger war involving multiple nations.

For example, the alliance system included the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, and the Triple Entente of France, Russia, and Great Britain. This division increased the stakes of any military conflict, as countries felt compelled to support their allies, creating a domino effect. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914 exemplifies how entangled alliances pulled multiple countries into war.

While economic prosperity, colonial competition, and social reform movements were significant factors in the global context of the early 20th century, they did not have the same direct and immediate impact on the outbreak of World War I as the alliances did. Economic prosperity was leading to competition rather than outright conflict, colonial competition was mainly centered on imperial ambitions but had been a long-standing issue, and social reform movements generally advocated for change rather than fostering military tensions. Thus, the intricate web of