ruled over, there was the potential for a conflict between the powers for the spoils. MostEuropean powers agreed the best solution for the time being was to'prop up,the Turkishregime, and try to persuade it to modernize.The Russians, on the other hand, preferred topromote self-government for the Balkan states, but Austria-Hungary was deeply opposed tothis idea.

Great Britain Parl iamentary Monarchy / Trade / Industry / Mari t ime power / EmpireGermany Author i tar ian State / Mi l i tary power / Industr ia l powerRussia Autocrat ic Tsardom / Some industr ia l izat ion / Foreign debtt.^^-^ Democrat ic Republ ic / S ow economic growth / EmpireAustr ia-Hungary Dual Monarchy/ Nat ional i t ies problemsTurkey Sultanate / Decl ine of empire

Long-term causes of World War IAs we have seen, the creation of a new state in Europe - particularly one with the economic,military and imperial potential of Germany - created a certain amount of nervousnessamong other European countries. France, of course, was particularly hostile in its attitudetowards Germany after the humiliation of the war in 1870 and the loss of Alsace-Lorraine.Nevertheless, Germany under its first ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm I, and its chancellor, Bismarck,did not pursue an aggressive foreign policy. Bismarck worked at creating a web of alliancesthat would protect Germany from future attack and would allow Germany to work onconsolidating its position in Europe. These alliances can be seen below. Germany's mainaim was to keep France isolated and stay allied with Russia to prevent the possibility of atwo-front war.

Bismarck's web of alliancesThe Dreikaiserbund or Three Emperors' League (1979)The Dreikaiserbund ioined Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary into an alliance. Its termswere very vague, but it served Bismarck's purpose of keeping France isolated.

The Dual All iance (1879)Austria-Hungary and Russia came into conflict over events in the Balkans and theDreikaiserbund collapsed. In its place, Bismarck made a separate treaty with the Austrians.This alliance was part of Bismarck's system to limit the possibility of war between theEuropean powers, and was primarily defensive. Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed toassist one another if Russia attacked them. Each country also agreed to remain neutral ifthe other was attacked by another European country.

The Three Emperors' All iance (1BBl)Russia, feeling isolated in Europe, turned back to Germany, and Bismarck drew up a revisedversion of the Drieskaiserbund.Again, this offered Bismarck security. The terms of thealliance included an agreement that if either Russia, Germany or Austria were at war withanother power, the others would remain neutral. The alliance also tried to resolve Austro-Russian disputes in the Balkans.

The Triple Alliance (1882)This alliance was between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. If any of the signatorieswere attacked by two or more powers, the others promised to lend assistance.

Two-front warMil i tary commandersusually want to avoida two-front war, whichmeans dividing their forcesto meet an enemy in twodifferent places. In thecase of World War l, thiswould mean the GermanArmy sending men,ammunit ion, supplies andcommunications to boththe Western and FasternFronts, thus l imit ing theircapacity to fight on eitherfront (see later informationon the Schlieffen Plan).

To access worksheet 2.,lon the Dual Al l iance,please visit www.pea rson bacconl ine.com and fol low the on-SCreen lnstructtonS.

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THE CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)The Three Emperors'Alliance fell to pieces due to Balkan problems in 1885. Thus, thisseparate treaty with Russia was drawn up in order to avoid any risk of a war on tvvo fronts.Bismarck had to make new arrangements to ensure that Germany stayed friendly withRussia.

The New Course and WeltpolitikIn 1888, the young and ambitious Wilhelm II came to the throne in Germany, and Bismarckwas replaced as Chancellor by Leo von Caprivi in 1890. Kaiser Wilhelm II and Caprivitook German foreign policy on a'new course'that would overturn Bismarck's carefullynurtured system of alliances. The Reinsurance Tieaty with Russia was allowed to lapse thatyear, creating the conditions for the Franco-Russian Alliance of tgg+. Militarily, the alliancepromised mutual assistance if either was attacked by Germany. It also agreed immediatemobilization in response to any member of the Tiiple Alliance mobilizing. There was alsoa political clause, which agreed mutual support in imperial disputes; the focus of thisclause was essentially anti-British. Bismarck's system was destroyed. France was free of itsisolation, and Germany now could face a war on two fronts.

Undeterred, however, German policy makers from the mid 1890s began to look beyondEurope and to follow a policy that they hoped would make Germany a colonial power,with an overseas empire and navy. Such a policy would also have the benefit of divertingthe German population away from the social and political problems at home. This poliry,known as Weltpolitik- which was supported by various patriotic groups such as the Pan-German League within Germany - was bound to have an impact on Germany's relationswith other countries.

Document analysist hope Europe will gradually come to realize the fundomentol principle of my policy: leadershipin the peaceful sense - a sort of Nopoleonic supremacy. . . I am of the opinion that it is already asuccess that l, having come to govern at so early an age, stand at the head of German armed mightyet have left my sword in its scobbard and have given up Bismarck's policy of externolly causingdisruption to reploce it with a peaceful foreign situation such as we have not known for many years.

The Kaiser to Botho Graf zu Eulenburg, July 1 892. Eulenburg was a close friend of KaiserWilhelm ll and served as his Minister of the Interior unti l 1882.

QuestionAccording to the Kaiser, what does he hope to achieve in foreign policy?

Wilhelm llWi lhelm was the son ofPr ince Freder ick Wi lhelmof Prussia and Victoria(who was the daughterof Queen Victoria). Hewas a keen advocate ofal l th ings mi l i tary. Heloved wearing, and havinghimsel f photographed in,his numerous uni forms,and he surroundedhimself wi th the el i te ofGerman military society.Wl lhelm acted verymuch as an autocratlcmonarch and also had avolat l le and unpredictablepersonality. He was astrong opponent ofsocial ism and vigorouslybelieved in Weltpolitik- increasing the globalstrength of Germanythrough bui id ing up theGerman navy and colonialexpansion.

lmperialismOne of the main causes of tension between the European powers in 1880-1905 wascolonial rivalries. Over the course ofthe 19th century, the Europeans had increased theirdomination of countries in Africa and the Far East and competed to build vast empires.This effort was initially driven by economic motives (cheap raw materials, new marketsand low-cost labour forces). Over the course of the century, however, territorial acquisitionincreasingly occurred due to a mixture of the Social Darwinian belief that the spread ofWestern civilization was'God's work'and also nationalistic competition with the otherEuropean powers (and to a certain extent the USA).