The main events that probably triggered the war at that time were most probably the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the opposing alliances and the arms race between Britain and Germany. Although some countries can be blamed to a larger extent, all the countries that started the war are to blame in some way because without their actions nothing would have happened, although it is true to say another war may have happened anyway.
Historically Germany has always been blamed for World War 1 because of its leadership and actions in the run up to the war. Most of the reasons are linked to its ambition to create an empire; due to this war was inevitable. Germany had created many alliances and backed countries even when they wouldn't gain just to appear more powerful. Another one of the main reasons is that Germany started the arms race by trying to compete with the British Navy.
Germany is blamed because of its backing to go to war with Austria-Hungary if they went to war against Serbia. If this had not been agreed then the rest of the problems would not have happened because Austria Hungary would have been forced into making a diplomatic approach with Serbia. Another main reason in 1914 was the use of the Schliefeln plan, which dragged Belgium into the war, and then gave the British an excuse to enter which dramatically increased the size of the war, because the Germans attacked France through Belgium.
There are even more long term reasons that can be used for blaming Germany; these include an arms race with Britain, its colonial ambitions, its alliance with Austria and also its occupation of part of old France, Alsace Lorraine. The arms race with Britain and its colonial ambitions link together because it needed a stronger navy and armed forces to be able to fight off Britain's empire if Germany was to build its own. The alliance with Austria and Italy, that went back for about 30 years didn't help the situation because if one of its allies went to war then they would also be dragged into it even if they didn't need to. Finally its occupation of Alsace Lorraine wouldn't help because if it had returned it to the French then there would not have been a rivalry that caused the creation of the alliances.
There is also the possibility that another country may have been responsible as they all did something to cause the war, for example Serbia, failed to stop terrorists operating in Serbia from killing Franz Ferdinand, Britain for continuing the arms race with Germany and Russia for mobilizing to make themselves a threat to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
The main other country that I believe is responsible for the war is Austria-Hungary because of their long term and short-term aims. The long term effects that they created were those that went against Serbia. Firstly they wanted to extend their power into the Balkans while trying to stop Serbs in the empire having a say through stopping Nationalism. As well as this they also saw the Russians as a rival in the Balkans because they were seen as the protector of Serbia.
These are some of the points that make Austria-Hungary the cause of World War I. The short-term effects were all around the killing of Franz Ferdinand, after the assassination they gave Serbia a list of demands, all but one were agreed. However Austria-Hungary weren't happy about this and went looking for war after getting the backing from Germany. If they had decided to take a diplomatic approach that Serbia was happy to follow then the war might not have happened. These are some of the points that make Austria-Hungary the cause of World War I.
The other country that could take the blame is Serbia although their long-term actions weren't that important, the things that happened in 1914 could have been diverted to stop war. The long-term aims were that of increasing its influence in the Balkans while hoping to regain Bosnia. The other aim that caused trouble creating friction with Austria-Hungary is that of supporting the anti government movements, this maybe one of the reasons that persuaded Austria-Hungary to go to war, if they hadn't done that then I believe a diplomatic approach would have been possible.
The short-term problem was linked to one of Serbia's long term aims that of supporting the anti-government movements in Austria-Hungary. If Serbia had done more to stop splinters of these groups which took part in terrorism from operating from Serbia, then the assassination of Franz Ferdinand wouldn't have happened or if it had then Austria-Hungary may have made more effort for a diplomatic approach as they knew Serbia had tried to do something about it.
In conclusion I don't believe that Germany was the main cause of World War 1 because it was only re acting to Austria-Hungary. I believe that Austria-Hungary was the country that was most to blame for the outbreak of World War 1. This is because after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand they went looking for war for their own gain, their excuse was that Serbia wouldn't agree to all of their demands. Austria-Hungary secured the backing of Germany knowing that if they went to war with Germany then most of Europe would follow as they were worried about Germany becoming too powerful.
