Identify and rank what you consider the most significant causes of the Second World War with appropriate justification.

The Second World War was caused by a combination of causes like the passive attitude of the democratic powers Britain, France and the USA, Hitler's aims, the League of Nations' failure to preserve peace and the aggression of Hitler's allies. But Hitler's idea of self-sufficiency, his desire to unite German speaking people and to dominate Europe and the World were the most significant causes. His rise was helped by Britain's and France's policy of appeasement, …

…encouraged by the inactiveness of the democratic powers, their policy of appeasement and support he gained during the 1920's and 1930's. Other factors like the Treaty of Versailles and the death of key figures were also significant but it is difficult to extract one specific cause. Because World War Two was caused by the combination of all these causes and we don't know what would have happened if one of the precipitants had not occurred.