Final answer:
Nationalism was the most potent cause of the First World War because it fueled the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and led to the escalation of tensions among countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the four M.A.I.N. underlying causes of the First World War, nationalism was the most potent because it fueled the Serbians' hatred of their Austro-Hungarian rulers, which eventually culminated in the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This act of nationalism triggered a chain of events that led to the outbreak of the war. Additionally, nationalism played a role in other countries' drive to protect their own interests and territories, escalating tensions and contributing to the start of the war.
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