which countries hold the most responsibility for causing world war 1 and how did they contribute to starting it?
Many countries are to blame for the outbreak of WW1, as many countries played a big part in starting it. The main countries that caused WW1 were Britain, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy, France, Russia and Serbia. Britain played a part in starting the war by expanding their navy to stay in front of Germany, being prepared to support France after German threats and being a part of the triple entente. France played a part in the war by going to war with Germany and Austro-Hungary and being allied with Britain and Russia ("Countries Involved In World War I" 2016). Russia helped cause the war by being allied with Britain and France and declaring war on Austro-Hungary before all of options of peace had been exhausted (David 2014).
Germany were a big factor in causing WW1 because they expanded their empire overseas, greatly expanded their navy, invaded Belgium and sent the blank cheque offering to support the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia, when they could easily have withdrawn it and halt the disaster. Austro-Hungary played a big part in causing the war by annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina, being a part of the triple alliance and declaring war on Serbia, while Italy also played a part in starting the great war by being intimidated into become allies with Germany and Austro-Hungary to form the triple alliance. (David 2014) Serbia is blamed by many as being the main cause of WW1 because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which kick-started the war. ("Countries Involved In World War I")