Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
TheThe
Road
to War
Alliances
and the balance of power
1 The Alliances and
the balance of power
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
The system of alliances you have just
studied was designed to keep the peace
through maintaining a balance of power.
The cartoon shown on the next slide was
an attempt to sum up how the balance of
power worked.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
A modern redrawing of an American cartoon
published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914.
The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
Causes of the
First World War
The Road to War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
Balance of power
Work in pairs. One of you should try to convince
your partner that the cartoonist thinks the alliances
helped prevent war. The other should try to
convince your partner that the cartoon is saying
the alliances made war more likely.
How is it possible to interpret the same source two
ways?
© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
The Road to War
Causes of the
First World War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
Your judgement – the alliances were …
1. Stupid and selfish
2. Risky
3. Understandable
4. Motivated by fear
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5. Motivated by greed and
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© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009
The Road to War
Causes of the
First World War
The Alliances
and the balance of power
Your judgement – the alliances …
1. Made war less likely
2. Made war more likely
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© Hodder Education, 2009
© Hodder Education, 2009