Final answer:
The true cause of World War I was a complex mixture of multiple events and factors, not a single event, encompassing militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism, among immediate catalysts like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that World War I was not caused by one single event or action, but by many events and actions across Europe, is true. The causes of World War I are complex, involving a mixture of long-term and short-term factors. One can consider the main long-term causes represented by the acronym MAIN: Militarism, which refers to the arms race and the glorification of military power; Alliances, which created a system of entanglements that could pull multiple countries into conflict; Imperialism, the competition for global empires that caused rivalries; and Nationalism, which fueled competitive and antagonistic national pride.
Additionally, there were immediate catalysts such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The interconnected web of alliances turned what might have been a local conflict into a global war. The war's modern weaponry and tactics led to unprecedented destruction and reshaped international relations. It highlighted the deadly potential of industrialized warfare and set the stage for the geopolitical upheavals that followed, including the rise of fascism and the eventual eruption of World War II.
The correct answer to the student's question is option A: True.