The Triple Alliance: Alliance between Germany, Austria-hungary, and italy (central powers: germany, austria hungary, ottoman empire)
The triple entente: Alliance between england, france, and russia (allied powers: england, france, russia, united states, italy, serbia, belgium, switzerland)
Long-term causes of world war i
(definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary)
Imperialism - the extension of a nation's influence, typically by means of international diplomacy or military force
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Militarism - a country's desire to sustain a strong military in order to defend or develop national importance
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Nationalism - the belief that one's country is superior to another
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Alliances - an association formed between countries for mutual benefit
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Potential causes of war
Franz Ferdinand assassination
Ultimatum
Balance of power
Dreadnoughts
Support
France/Germany Alsace Lorraine
Bosnia
Austria-Hungary and Italy territory
Belgium
- Austria-Hungary wants retribution
Ultimatum
- Austria-Hungary demands justice for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. This includes the surrender of the Black Hand, investigation privileges, and a public apology from Serbia
Balance of power
- A balance of power insures that one nation cannot become significantly more powerful than other countries
Dreadnoughts
- Germany and Britain in naval arms race: who can produce more dreadnoughts?
Support
- Countries are willing to go to war to protect their allies.
France/Germany Alsace Lorraine
- Germany takes Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian War; France wants to regain this land.
Bosnia
- Serbia wants Bosnia from Austria-Hungary as a source for trade, and to unite the Slavic people
- Austria-Hungary wants to keep Bosnia because it is their territory
Austria-Hungary and Italy territory
- Italy wants to regain Trieste, Istria, Zara, and Dalmatia from Austria-Hungary
- Austria-Hungary offers to give two of these territories back if they win the war; however Britain offers to give them all to Italy, provided that Italy fight alongside them
Belgium
- Belgium is supposed to be neutral; Germany might invade Belgium to get to France
Why did russia join the war?
Long-term reasons for war:
Short-term reasons for war:
Goals for World War I:
- 1905: Russia loses a war to Japan, needs to rebuild status by winning a European war (nationalism)
- Russia has economic issues from previous wars
- Russia is able to ally with anti-German countries (i.e. France)
- Germany is a threat to Russian territories
Short-term reasons for war:
- Russia was in a rush to mobilize its army - Russia had poor infrastructure (roads and railroads), which made it difficult to deploy soldiers
- Defend Serbia
Goals for World War I:
- Gain access to the Dardanelles from the Black Sea in order to use it as a port to the Mediterranean, where the water was warm enough to sail ships
- Expansion of the Russian empire
- Continued influence in the Balkans (furthermore, if Serbia gained control over Bosnia, then Russia would have an extra trading partner to build market economy)
Newspaper article on the causes of world war i: the franco-prussian war
End of a War: The Beginning of Another?
The Franco-Prussian War, or the Franco-German War, was a war fought between France and Prussia that was initiated by the Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in an attempt to create a German Empire. The war began on July 19 of last year, and ended yesterday, on May 10, 1871, in a humiliating defeat for the French, and a victory stimulating the rise of German military forces. Using a similar approach with Austria, Bismarck strived to weaken France to the maximum potential before a war. One of his tactics was to eliminate France’s possible allies (such as Italy, Russia, and Great Britain – however, Britain was not willing to fight alongside France in fear that the country might become more powerful than the British Empire). Bismarck secured an opportunity for war after Spain offered its crown to one of the relatives of Wilhelm I, the Prussian King. On the other hand, France was using war as a way to prevent Prussia from gaining power. The French demanded that Wilhelm I convince his relative to decline the Spanish crown; however, this insistence was not successful. In order to provoke and offend the French, Bismarck published an edited telegram of Wilhelm’s turndown (The Ems Telegram). Shortly after this publication, French Emperor Napoleon III declared war against Prussia. The results of the war reflect France’s loss. The South Confederate German states joined the Northern German Confederation, controlled by Prussia, therefore unifying Germany. Furthermore, France lost the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, and now owes Germany £200 million in compensation (to be formalized on May 21).
However, this humiliating loss might be forgotten in the near future. The French, wounded by the defeat, may seek revenge in order to regain Alsace-Lorraine and build a respectable military status. As of now, though, France is not strong enough to challenge Germany, and, although keen to fight, may have to form alliances before considering participating in another war.
The Franco-Prussian War, or the Franco-German War, was a war fought between France and Prussia that was initiated by the Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in an attempt to create a German Empire. The war began on July 19 of last year, and ended yesterday, on May 10, 1871, in a humiliating defeat for the French, and a victory stimulating the rise of German military forces. Using a similar approach with Austria, Bismarck strived to weaken France to the maximum potential before a war. One of his tactics was to eliminate France’s possible allies (such as Italy, Russia, and Great Britain – however, Britain was not willing to fight alongside France in fear that the country might become more powerful than the British Empire). Bismarck secured an opportunity for war after Spain offered its crown to one of the relatives of Wilhelm I, the Prussian King. On the other hand, France was using war as a way to prevent Prussia from gaining power. The French demanded that Wilhelm I convince his relative to decline the Spanish crown; however, this insistence was not successful. In order to provoke and offend the French, Bismarck published an edited telegram of Wilhelm’s turndown (The Ems Telegram). Shortly after this publication, French Emperor Napoleon III declared war against Prussia. The results of the war reflect France’s loss. The South Confederate German states joined the Northern German Confederation, controlled by Prussia, therefore unifying Germany. Furthermore, France lost the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, and now owes Germany £200 million in compensation (to be formalized on May 21).
However, this humiliating loss might be forgotten in the near future. The French, wounded by the defeat, may seek revenge in order to regain Alsace-Lorraine and build a respectable military status. As of now, though, France is not strong enough to challenge Germany, and, although keen to fight, may have to form alliances before considering participating in another war.