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Creation of the Dual Alliance
Otto von Bismark saw France as the greastest threat to peace in Europe because he believed that France still wanted revenge for it's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Bismark then wanted to isolate France. In 1879, Otto von Bismark formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. This event is significant because it shows the beginning of the alliance systems, systems of treaty between countries stating they will ally, or help, eachother. -
Creation of the Triple Alliance
Three years after the creation of the Dual Alliance in 1879, Italy joined the two countries, creating the Triple Alliance, an alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in 1882. Ths event was significant because now these countries had crested an alliance, making them stronger than before. This is ine of the two main alliance systems that helped ignite the Great War. -
Rise of Kaiser Willhelm II and resignation of Bismark, Lapse of treaty with Russia
In 1890, Kaiser Willhelm II, who two years early became ruler of Germany, forced Otto von Bismark to resign. Willhelm was sa roud and stuborn man who did not wish to share his power with anyone, along with wanting to show everyone how powerful Germany was. Wilhelm let Germany's treaty with Russia lapse in 1890.
This event is significant because it led to later alliances, but it also shows nationalism. Wilhelm had a lot of pride in Germany, leading it to lose a valuable ally. -
Alliance of Russia and France
In response to the lapse of Russia's treaty with Germany, Russia formed a defensive military alliance with France in 1892 and 1894. This was the type of alliance that Bismark had feared, war with either Russia or France would now make Germany the enemy of both.
This event was significant because it showed the power of alliance systems and militarism. Both of these contributed for the start of WWI. -
Conflicts Over Morocco
In 1905, Germany and France nearly fought over who would control Morocco, in Northern Africa. Most of Europe supported France, so Germany backed down This event is significant because it shows imperialism in Europe, a stronger country taking over weaker countries. This imperialism led to competition and conflict between European countries. -
Creation of the Triple Entente
Great Britian was alarmed at the news of Wilhelm creating a strong German Navy, so they formed an entente with France. In 1907, Britiain created another entente with both France and Russia. This was known as the Triple Entente, this was a sort of allaince between Russia, Great Britain, and Frace which did not bind Great Britian to fight with Russia and France, but it ensured that they would not fight against them. -
Significance of Creation of Triple Entente
This event was significant because it showed alliances, one of the four main caused of WWI. These alliances that had been formed had now created two sides. The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente would know be the two opposing forces in Europe, fighting against eachother. These opposing forces will eventually drive eachother to war. -
Austria Annexing Bosnia and Herzegovnia
In 1908, Austria annexed, took over, Bosnia and Herzegovnia because they feared the Slavs would be victorious in created a Slavic state, which would stir rebellion among the population. This outraged Serbian leaders who had sought to rule these provinces. In following years, tension rose between Austria and Serbia. Serbians vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovnia away from Austria and Austria vowed to destroy any Serbian effort to undermine its authority in the Balkans. -
Significance of Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovnia
The significance of this event was that it showed Imperialism. This led to tension and competition between Austris-Hungary and countries in the Balkans. -
Rise of Militarism
The European nations believed to be truly great powers, they had to have strong militaries. By 1914, all of the Great Powers (Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, and Austris-Hungary) except for Great Britain had large standing armies.
This is significant because militarism, the policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war, was one of the main causes of the Great War. Having large armies gave people a sense of Nationalism, or pride in their country. -
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie paid a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. While in the car, the driver took a wrong turn, leading the couple to their doom. The pair was shot at point-blank range by Gavrilo Princip, a 19 year old Serbian member of the Black Hand, a secret society commited of ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule.
This was significant because this was the shot that set off the war. After this, countries declared war on eachother, beginning WWI. -
Austria delcares war on Serbia
Austria decided to use the assassination as an excuse to punish Serbia. On July 23, Austria presented Serbia with numerous demands, but Serbia did not agree to all of them. Austria did not want to negotiate and the nation's leaders had decided on war. On July 28, Austria declared war on Serbia. This was significant because it created a chain reaction of dclarations of war, due to all of the alliances created between countries. -
Germany declares war on Russia,
In response to Austria's declaration of war on Serbia, Russia, Serbia's ally, came to help. Expecting Germany to join Austria (due to the Triple Alliance), Russia mobilized along the German border. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914. This event was significant because it was one of the many declarations of war due to the alliance systems. These many wars lead to the Great War. -
Germany declares war on France
As Russia looked to it's ally France to help in war, Germany did not wait for France to react. Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declared war on France. This event was important because it shows hte power of hte alliance systems. One country looks at it's ally for help, then the opposing country decalres war on it. This is how these little wars began, which led to the beginning of WWI. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Soon after Germany declared war on Great Britains allies, France and Russia, Great Britain declared war on Germany. This event was significant because now, much of Europe was locked in battle due to the alliances between countries. These battles eventually grew into the Great War, WWI
