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Franco-Prussian War
This was a humiliating defeat for France. This war led to creation of a powerful German Empire with military and industrial potential(3). This also led France to have a great desire for revenge. -
Accession of Wilhelm II to the German Throne
He changed Germany's foreign policy to be more aggressive and dismissed the skillful Chancellor Otto Von Bismark. "He refused to renew a treaty that kept the fragile peace between Austria-Hungary and Russia and kept France isolated"(3). This, in turn, helped create an alliance between France and Russia (formed in 1892) that became the basis for the future Triple Entente. -
Russo-Japanese War
Russia almost lost a whole fleet of Balkan and Pacific ships to the Japanese. "This war also led to the Russian Revolution of 1905"
(3). It also intensified rivalry with Austria-Hungry. This also made the Tsarist government focus more on Europe in its ambitions. -
The Tangier Crisis
An international crisis where Germany wanted to challenge France's growing control in Morocco. "The tensions were eased by negotiations that affirmed France's control"(3). Enhanced the Anglo-French Entente. -
Entente Cordiale
"In order to counter Germany's growing empire, Great Britain entered into an alliance with France"(3). In 1907 Britain Allied with Russia who was already allied with France. This made the Triple Entente which becomes the Allies in WW1. -
Bosnian Annexation Crisis
"Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. France and Great Britain offered little help to Russia to resist this takeover that benefitted Germany"(3). This increased tensions between Russia, Serbia, and Austria-Hungary. -
Agadir Crisis
"France sent a large number of troops into Morroco, Germany wanted it too. They threatened warfare which eventually leads to France in Morocco and Germany getting other territorial concessions"(3). However, London wasn't happy with Germany's aggressiveness and the tension between London and Berlin remained sour. -
Italo-Turkish War
This war revealed the weakness of the Ottoman army. This war led to question about the fate of the decaying Ottoman Empire(3). The Balkan League would also capture the Balkan peninsula from the Turks. -
Balkan Wars
In 1912, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Bulgaria formed the Balkan League, a military alliance against the Ottoman Empire(3). Bulgaria eventually turned against its allies. They were defeated in a month. The success of the Balkan League shocked the allies. It disturbed Austria-Hungary who saw Serbia and the rest of the nations as a threat to its power and security. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
The assassination of the Archduke by Serb nationalists lit a spark that lit the powder keg of previous events that blew up into WW1. "The Archduke and his wife were killed by Bosnian-Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip while in Sarajevo"(3). Austria-Hungary saw this as an opportunity to accuse and attack its neighbor in order to protect themselves from further plots. -
July Ultimatum
Austria-Hungary and Vienna "imposed impossible demands on Serbia in order to accuse them of orchestrating the assassination of the Archduke"(3). In my opinion, this was the final straw to war. This is because it was Austria-Hungary's choice to impose these knowing they would lead to war. The assassination was big, but Austria-Hungary could have handled it as just a dispute-ish event. Not make a super big deal by starting a World War over it. They chose to go to war. -
WW1 Starts
A few days after the July Ultimatum, the Austro-Hungarian troops invaded Serbia and started the devastating World War I. This war was one of the most deadly conflicts in human history. World War One. AKA the Great war. AKA The War to End All Wars.
