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During these years, Otto von Bismarck used war as a mean to unify Germany.
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During the Franco-Prussian Ward, France had lost the territories of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.
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Among the Great Powers, some rivalries and mutual mistrust led to the creation of several military alliances.
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Otto von Bismarck declared Germany as a "satisfied power."
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Otto von Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.
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Otto von Bismarck took another ally from France by making a treaty with Russia.
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Italy joined the Dual Alliance (Germany and Austria-Hungary), to form the Triple Alliance.
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Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes ruler of Germany.
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Germany's foregin policy changed dramatically as Kaiser Wilhelm II let Germany's treaty with Russia lapse.
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Kaiser Wilhelm II forces Otto von Bismarck to resign.
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Russia formed a military alliance with France.
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The defensive military alliance between France and Russia becomes final.
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Frédéric Passy, a prominent peace activist, expressed his concern about war coming and an unstable peace.
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By this time, two rival groups existed in Europe: the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
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Britain made an entente with both France and Russia.
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Austria annexed, or took over, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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All the Great Powers except Britain had created a large standing army.
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The Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, with his wife Sophie, were shot in the streets of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital, Sarajevo.
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Austria presented Serbia an ultimatum containing several demands.
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Austria rejected Serbia`s offer of settling some demands by an international conference, and declared war.
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Russia, an ally of Serbia because of the great Slavic population, took action by ordering the mobilization of troops towards the Austrian border.