I.
Bismarck
§
1865-1871—Otto
von Bismarck uses war to unify Germany. Builds a German Empire.
§
After 1871, Bismark
turns to a policy of peace. Wants to protect his new German Empire through peace.
§
Wants to isolate
France--still angry about the Franco-Prussian
War. 1879—Bismarck forms the Dual Alliance
between Germany ad Austria-Hungary. 3 years later, Italy
joins--called Triple Alliance.
§
1887—Bismarck makes a treaty with Russia—Reinsurance
Treaty. Touchy situation because both Austria-Hungary
and Russia had ties in the Balkans.
Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace
§
1890—Kaiser William II forces Bismarck
to resign. New Kaiser will be own master.
§
William II lets the Reinsurance Treaty lapse with Russia. French are delighted. Make a treaty with
Russia in 1894.
§
France and Russia promise to help each other out it either were to be attacked by a third
country.
§
Germany and Great Britain economic rivals but had remained friendly. Kaiser always envied Britain’s
worldwide empire. He decided that Germany
should challenge Britain. Started massive ship building program to build up German navy. Start
of an arms race.
§
Britain competes
in the naval arms race trying to enlarge her own navy. Also started looking for
allies.
§
1904—Britain signs a friendship treaty with
France.
1907—signs another treaty with France
& Russia.
§
Treaties were known as ententes—friendly understandings rather than alliances.
§
1907--Two Rival Camps
--Triple Alliance—Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany
--Triple Entente—Britain,
France, Russia
Balkans Were a Powder Keg
§ For
100 years—many Balkan groups had been trying to free themselves from Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire weakens and many Balkan groups break away and form nations—Albania, Bulgaria, Greece,
Montenegro, Romania,
Serbia
§
Nationalism—very
powerful force
§
Russia delighted with nationalism in the Balkans.
Russians were slavs—part of the same large language family as the Serbs, Bulgarians, and other Balkan peoples. Russia
encouraged these Slavic groups in their struggles for independence. Russia wants access to ports on the Mediterranean.
§
Austria-Hungary sees Ottoman decline as opportunity to extend its sphere of influence.
§
Russia and Austria--Hungary
on collision course.
§
1908—AH
annexed (took over) Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian officials outraged b/c they intended on taking over the area. Russia offered Serbia full support. Germany stood firmly behind AH. Russia had to back
down. Not prepared for war.
Militarism
--1914—Europeans believed war was inevitable. All the Great Powers
kept large
standing armies. Generals wanted to go to war.
--Militarism—glorification or armed strength. Popular among
civilians.
