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Otto van Bismarck, Prussia’s blood-and-iron chancellor, saw France as the greatest threat to peace. He believed that France still wanted revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck’s first goal was to isolate France. “As long as it is without allies France poses no danger to us,” Bismarck stressed. In 1879, Bismarck formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. (Pictured- Otto van Bismark)
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When the first allience was made, the rise of militarism began. (pictured- Cartoon of the Alliance System)
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Three years after forming the Duel Alliance, Itally joined the alliance. Forming the Triple Alience, these three contries swore to fight for one another and never against. (Pictured- German ilistration of the Triple Alliance)
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Kaiser Wilhelm II, the new ruler of Germany, forced Bismarck to resign. A proud and stubborn man, Wilhelm II did not wish to share power with anyone.
Besides wanting to assert his own power, the new kaiser was eager to show the world just how mighty Germany had become. The army was his greatest pride. “I and the army were born for one another,” Wilhelm declared shortly after taking power. Wihelm allowed Russias treaty to end. (Pictured- Kaiser Wilhelm II) -
After the treaty with Germany expired, Russia decided to make an allience with France in 1892 and again in 1894.
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In 1905 (and again in 1911), Germany and France nearly faught over who would contol Morocco, in Northern Africa. Most of Europe supported France, so Germany backed down. This even is signifigant because it shows how imperialism, expanding an empire by taking over weaker countries, led to intence competition and conflict between European countries. (Pictured- German propaganda)
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Alarmed, Great Britain formed an entente, or alliance, with France. In 1907, Britain made another entente, this time with both France and Russia. The Triple Entente, as it was called, did not bind Britain to fight with France and Russia. However, it did almost certainly ensure that Britain would not fight against them. (Pictured- A French Cartoon of the Triple Entente)
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These were two Balkan areas with large Slavic populations. Serbian leaders, who had wanted to rule these provinces, were outraged. In the years that followed, tensions between Serbia and Austria steadily rose. The Serbs continually vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovina away from Austria. In response, Austria-Hungary vowed to crush any Serbian effort to undermine it authority in the Balkans. (Pictured- Bosnia and Herzegovina)
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