Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 1 CAUSES OF WORLD WAR ONE The Alliance System Starter Task ▪ There is a famous scene in "Blackadder Goes Forth" in which he outlines how the alliance system was designed to produce a “balance of power” – but failed. ▪ Put the following words into this transcript from the show (a link to the video clip on YouTube can be found at http://goo.gl/cm62PW ) Austro-Hungary | Archduke | Deterrent | Prevent | Flaw | Superblocs Private Baldrick: I heard that the war started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry. Captain Blackadder: I think you mean it started when the ______________________ of Austro-Hungary got shot. Private Baldrick: Nah, there was definitely an ostrich involved, sir. Captain Blackadder: Well, possibly. But the real reason for the whole thing was that it was too much effort not to have a war…You see, Baldrick, in order to ______________________ war in Europe, two ______________________ developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side, and the Germans and ______________________ on the other. The idea was to have two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other's ______________________. That way there could never be a war. Private Baldrick: But, this is a sort of a war, isn't it, sir? Captain Blackadder: Yes, that's right. You see, there _________________ in the plan. Private Baldrick: What was that, sir? Captain Blackadder: It was b*llocks. Private Baldrick: So the poor old ostrich died for nothing then. was a tiny Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2 The roots of the alliance system: tension between France and Germany The idea of an “alliance system” was developed by Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia (a state in modern Germany). Before 1871, Germany was not a unified country, but a collection of independent states. The story continues below. Your job is to show the changing pattern of friendships and enmities in the diagram to the right of each part of the story. For example, use dotted black lines to represent friendships (“ententes”); solid black lines to represent military agreements (“alliances”); dotted red lines to represent tension; solid red lines to represent enmity. 1871: The Franco-Prussian War The new state of Germany defeated France and took Alsace-Lorraine from her. France was isloated in Europe as the only Republic among the major powers. The royal families of Germany, Britain and Russia were linked by marriage. B R F G I A 1873: The Dreikaiserbund Germany, Russia and Austria joined together in a “Dreikaiserbund” to limit the influence of France. Britain preferred to remain aloof in what she called “splendid isolation”. B R F G I A B R F G I A B R F G I A 1878: Treaty of Berlin Russia defeated the Ottoman Empire, but Germany refused to support Russia’s attempt to get control of the Dardanelle sea route. This pleased Austria but weakened the Dreikaiserbund. 1879: The Dual Alliance Germany and Austria-Hungary made a formal military alliance to protect themselves from Russia. Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 3 1882: Triple Alliance Italy joined Germany and Austria in their new alliance. Russia is left more isolated, but Germany is convinced that she cannot form an alliance with Republican France. 1894: Franco-Russian Alliance Russia formed a military alliance with France to protect herself against the Triple Alliance. Germany is shocked and surprised, but at least Britain and France remain colonial rivals. 1899: “Weltpolitik” (“World Policy”) Germany started expanding her navy and army and announced her plan of building an empire. This frightened both Britain and France but they still distrust each other. 1904: Entente Cordiale This was a trade agreement, not a formal military alliance, between France and Britain (France would be allowed to take over Morocco, Britain to take over Egypt). Germany was shocked. 1907: Triple Entente This was an agreement between Russia, France and Britain to counteract what they saw as the increasing threat from Germany. B R F G I A B R F G I A B R F G I A B R F G I A B R F G I A Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 4 Task: A diagram of the Alliance System Produce a resource designed to clarify the alliance system that developed before 1914. This could be in the form of a diagram, timeline, chart or something completely different. It is totally up to you. Whatever you choose, make sure you include reference to the following key words and phrases: L1 Basic Information: ▪ The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy ▪ The Triple Entente: France, Russia and Britain ▪ What is the difference between an “Entente” and an “Alliance”? L2 Intermediate information: ▪ The Dual Alliance: Germany and Austria-Hungary ▪ The Entente Cordiale: France and Britain L3 Advanced information ▪ Include detail about the terms of each treaty using Walsh p4-7; Brendon 5-6; the short video provided by your teacher; and the following links: Links http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm www.saburchill.com/history/chapters/empires/0063.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/causes1_01.shtml You may be required to answer a 10-minute exam-style question (“Describe the alliance system which existed by 1914”) using this information next lesson. Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 5 Further notes from the two video clips http://goo.gl/c9cSEK http://goo.gl/U5tXFm Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 6 Result of the Alliance System = War Plans ▪ The Ententes and Alliances led countries to make war plans based on the possibility of an attack by their enemies. ▪ All these plans assumed that war would be quick and that the first to strike a blow would have the best chance of winning. The two main plans were formulated by France and Germany, who had been enemies since 1871. France: Plan 17 – The French decided to throw her army into Alsace and Lorraine and then march on towards Berlin. This was not particularly creative or likely to succeed given the German plan to sweep around them (see below): Germany: Schlieffen Plan Using any sources available to you, answer this question: 1. What were the main provisions of the Schlieffen Plan? 2. If a dispute arose between Russia and Germany, why would the Schlieffen Plan drag in: (a) France? (b) Britain?
