THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM
The Build up to World War One
Alliances
Alliances are like friendships between nations
These can change over time
Nations form two types of alliances:
– an agreement not to fight each other
– an agreement between to back each other up in
times of conflict
Before WW1, the nations of Europe formed both
sorts of alliances
Alliance One 1879
Germany allied with
Austria in in 1879
Three years later, Italy
joined
This was called the
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Why Countries joined the
Triple Alliance?
Germany and AustriaHungary forms an
Alliance in 1879,
Creating the Dual –
alliance
Why?
Germany fears an attack
From France and Russia
Austria and Russia
Are rivals over the
Balkans
Austria requires
an ally against
Russia
Italy joins Germany
And Austria-Hungary
In 1882. Creating
The Triple Alliance
Alliance Two- 1892
France and Russia
feared that they could be
attacked by the Triple
Alliance
They agreed in 1892 to
help each other out if
either was attacked
Why France and Russia align
Franco-Russian alliance 1894
Why?
France wants
revenge after
1871 FrancoPrussian War
France and Russia fear an
attack by the Triple Alliance
British Isolationism
Until the 1890s Britain
thought its navy was
strong enough to stand
alone.
The 2nd Boers War
(1899-1902) weakened
the British
Alliance Three- 1904
Britain became worried
because Germany was
becoming so powerful
Britain decided to make
an agreement with
France not to war over
colonial territories
This was the ENTENTE
CORDIALE (friendly accord)
Alliance four 1907
Britain then made a
similar agreement with
Russia (Anglo-Russian
Entente)
– Both had prior quarrels
over land in central Asia
Russia was already in
alliance with France
This was called the
TRIPLE ENTENTE
The Two Armed Camps
Triple Alliance
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1883
1908
1913
Germany
Austria
Italy
Annual spending on
Arms (£M)
Triple Entente
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1883
1908
1913
Britain
France
Russia
Reflection/Review Questions
What fears/motivations lead to the formulation of
the Triple Alliance?
What fears/motivations lead to the formulation of
the Triple Entente?
– What is the Entente Cordiale?
– What is the Anglo-Russian Entente?
Which side is most justified in forming alliances?