What responsibility did the alliance system play in the outbreak of war?

The alliance system contributed significantly to the outbreak of war by creating a web of obligations that entangled multiple nations in conflict. When tensions escalated, particularly following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, countries were bound by treaties to support their allies, leading to a rapid escalation from a regional dispute into a full-scale global war. This interconnectedness meant that a single conflict could trigger a domino effect, drawing in nations and exacerbating the situation, ultimately leading to World War I.