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The Creation of the Dual Alliance
In 1879 Germany made an alliance with Austria-Hungary. These two countries were both against Germany and Bismarck thought as long as France had no allies there wasn't a problem. This was the first of the major alliances that had a significant outcome of the World War. It was significant because it started a alliance system to form. An alliance system is when more than two countries create an alliance, these alliances shaped who fought eachother in the war. -
Creation of the Triple Alliance
After Germany made an alliance with Austria-Hungary they decided to make the alliance even more complex and added Italy. This was yet another country involved with the alliance against France. This was significant because it gave the alliance more power and also led to a treaty with Russia a year later. It also made more and more European countries agianst France. This was the start of an alliance system that would start and be a huge part of WW1. -
Rise of Kaiser Wilhelm II and resignation of Bismarck, lapse of treaty with Russia.
In 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II forced Bismarck to resign in Germany. Kaiser did this because he did not want to share any power with anyone else in Germany. His main reason for doing what he did was to show the world how strong of a country Germany was. This event was significant because it then cuases the lapse of the treaty with Russia. Russia then made a treaty with France which is then evening out the alliances. -
Alliance of Russia and France
In 1892 and 1894 Russia made an alliance with France. Russia made this alliance becuase Germany broke an earlier treaty with Russia. This was basically Russias response to the lapse in the treaty and was a defensive military alliance. This event was significant because it later led to the Triple Entente which was a huge decider in WW1. -
Conflicts over Morocco
In 1905 and again in 1911. 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 how imperialism, expanding an empire by taking over weaker countries, led to intense competition and conflict between European countries. (Pictured - Morrocco) -
Creation of the Triple Entente
After Germans navy began to grow, Britian became alarmed and decided to make an entente with France and Russia. This ensured that Britian would not have to fight Germany alone. The significance of this event shaped the World War. It created a rivalry between two powers in Europe. It was the Triple Alliance against the Triple Entente. -
Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 1908 Austria annexed or took over, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These two countries were the largest Slavic populations in Europe. After Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia was mad and the tension between Austria and Serbia rose. The event was significant because it led to the assasination of Archduke Ferdinand which was an extremely significant event in WW1. -
Rise of Militarism
In 1914 all of the European powers except for Great Britian had large standing armies. This policy of relying on military power is called militarism. Militarism played a huge part in WW1 and most of the European countries had militarism. Militarism was significant to World War 1 because it made the citizens of a country that had a large standing military feel safe and patriotic in their own country which is called nationalism. -
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914 the Archduke and his wife were visitng Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. As they rode the streets in an open car they were both shot and died right away. The killer was Gavrilo Princi who was a Serbian 19 year old. This Assassination ultimately led to the start of WW1 only a couple months later. After many failed negotiations Austria declared war on Serbia in July of 1914. -
Austria declares war on Serbia
After many negotiations between Serbia and Austria after the assassination Austria declared war on Serbia. Since Russia was an allie of Serbia they started to move their army toward Austrian borders. This event was significant because it was basically the start of World War 1 and caused all of the other countries to take action. There was no more negotiation between the countries and now Europe was in a war. -
Germany declares war on Russia and then France
On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia because Russia was already moving its troops toward the German border. Then just two days later Germany decared war of France. They did this because they knew France was going to declare war on them anyway because they were an allie with Russia. Germany just enforced and started it. This event then led to Great Britian declaring war on Germany which basically meant that all of Europe was locked into battle and all countries took a side. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Only a couple days after Germany declared war on both Russia and France, Britian declares war on Germany. Britian was an allie with both Russia and Frnace so it wasn't suprising when they did this. This event solidified the sides that the countries were taking for WW1. The central powers were Germany and Austria and the Allies were France, Russia, and Britian. The war was now in full swing and even though some people thought it would only last months it ended up last 4 years.
