Participants of WWI
Try to identify the seven major European powers
which will engage in World War I.
Triple Entente (The Allies)
Triple Alliance (Central Powers)
Participants of WWI
Try to identify the seven major European powers
which will engage in World War I.
Triple Entente (The Allies)
• Britain, France, and
Russia (1914)
• Italy (1915)
• United States (1917)
• Russia out (1918)
Triple Alliance (Central Powers)
• Germany, AustriaHungary, and Italy (1914)
• Turkey
• Bulgaria
The Alliance System: A Search
for Security
Otto von Bismarck (1871-1890)
• Sought protection for his new
German Empire
– Upset balance of Europegreat
wealth, military, and industrial power
– Used a series of alliances to alienate
France
• Problems: 1)based on Bismarck’s
ability to control the balance;
2)other nations began to seek
alliances to oppose German
Empire
The Alliance System: Search for
Security
• Treaty of Frankfurt, 1871—
– Ended Franco-PrussianWar
– Recognized William I as Emporer
– Est. Trade
– Regulated French troop withdrawal
• League of Three Emperors, 1873–
– Unstable alliance between the monarchs of
Russia,Austria-Hungary, and Germany
– Made by Bismarck to bring back the Holy
Alliance of 1815 and to fight against radicals
The Alliance System: Search for
Security
• Secret Austro-German Alliance, 1879
– Also known as Dual Alliance
– Pact between Austria-Hungary and German
Empire
– Wanted to protect each from Russia or other
aggressors
– Prevent isolation of Germany/ preserve peace
Alliance of Three Emperors, 1881—
- October 22, Bismarck negotiated an
agreement with League of Three Emperors
(Tsar Alexander II, Emperor Franz Joseph I,
and Kaiser Wilhelm I)
- sought to resurrect the Holy Alliance
of 1815
The Alliance System: Search for
Security
• Triple Alliance, 1882—
– Military alliance between Germany, AustriaHungary, and Italy
Lasted from 1882 until start of WWI
• Reinsurance Treaty, 1887—
– Secret agreement between Germany &Russia
that said each side would remain neutral if the
other became involved in a war with a third
great power, unless Germany attacked
France or Russia attacked Austria
“Dropping the Pilot”
• Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed Bismarck in 1890
– Wilhelm II felt Bismarck challenged his power
– Wilhelm did not trust Bismarck’s alliance with
Russia
• Bismarck’s alliance system that skillfully
isolated France will shatter under Wilhelm II
• William II(Germany) massive economic and
military build-upturned Britain away
– Pursued the goal of “glory” for Germany
Forging the Triple Entente
(1890-1907)
• Wilhelm failed to renew its Reinsurance Treaty
with Russia
• France aligned with Russia to protect against
Germany—Dual Entente
• 1904—Entente Cordial—aligned Britain and
France
– Settlement over Africa: NW to France and NE to
Britain
• 1907—Anglo-Entente--Britain and Russia align
Alliance System
• Triple Alliance
(Central
Powers)Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and
Italy
• Triple Entente(Allied
Powers)France,
Great Britain, and
Russia
“Dropping the Pilot”
• Using the political cartoon and knowledge
of events surrounding the dismissal of Otto
von Bismarck, answer the following
questions:
– What role in the world did Bismarck envision
for the new Germany after 1871?
– How successful was he in carrying out his
vision? Explain
– Summarize the ramifications of the dismissal
of Bismarck by Wilhelm II in 1890
Emergence of German Empire
• Otto von Bismarck—Three Emperor’s
League (1873)—Germany, Russia, Austria
– Renewed in 1881 w/ newly formed AustriaHungary
• Secret Austro-German Alliance (1879)
– Directed against any Russian aggression
• Triple Alliance (1882)—Germany, Austria,
and Italy
– Directed against French aggression
• End of Bismarck (1890)—allied with
Russia, Italy, Austria, and good terms with
Britain
DQ: Germany
• How is the rise of Germany to European
supremacy a true “Cinderella” story?