World War 1
The Development of two
Armed Camps (1890-1914)
The Alliance System
•By 1914 the
Great Powers had
formed into two
groups
•This created two
opposing rival
alliances in Europe
Glossary - Alliance
A commitment to provide
military support for the other
members of the alliance (allies)
In 1914 the two alliances were
The Triple Entente
•France
•Russia
•Great Britain
The Triple Alliance
•Germany
•Austria-Hungary
•Italy
Why Countries joined the Triple
Alliance?
German and AustriaAustria and Russia
Hungary forms an
Are rivals over the
Alliance in 1879,
Balkans
Creating the Dual –
Austria requires
alliance
an ally against
Russia
Why?
Germany fears an attack
From France and Russia
Italy joins Germany
And Austria-Hungary
In 1882. Creating
The Triple Alliance
Why Countries joined the Triple
Entente
Franco-Russian alliance
1894
Why?
France wants
revenge after
1871 FrancoPrussian War
France and Russia fear
an attack by the Triple
Alliance
Why Countries joined the Triple Entente
Splendid Isolation
Until the 1890’s Britain didn’t want
to enter into an alliance with other
European Powers.
Britain believed that her navy and
Empire was enough protection
After the Boer War Britain didn’t
want to enter into further conflict
over Colonies. In 1904 Britain and
France agreed not quarrel over
colonies, creating:
The Entente Cordiale 1904
Why Countries joined the Triple Entente
The Anglo-Russian
Entente 1907
•Britain also
settled it’s colonial
differences with
Russia.
•Thus creating
The Triple entente
Glossary: Entente – a friendly
understanding. Not a
commitment to go to war
Armed Camps
As tensions increased in Europe each side
increased spending on their armed forces
Conscript
armies
appeared in
Germany
and France
Military
timetables
were
drawn up
Source from: International Cooperation and Conflict
1890s-1920s, Elizabeth Trueland
The Two Armed Camps
Triple Alliance
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1883
1908
1913
Germany
Austria
Triple Entente
Italy
Annual spending on
Arms (£M)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1883
1908
1913
Britain
France
Russia