THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM
The Build up to World War One
Alliances
Alliances are like friendships between nations
These can change over time
Nations in alliances back each other up in times
of conflict
Before WW1, the nations of Europe formed
alliances
Alliance One 1879
Germany allied with
Austria in in 1879
Three years later, Italy
joined
This was called 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
Alliance Three- 1904
Britain became worried
because Germany was
becoming so powerful
Britain had no Allies
because she was
building her empire
Britain decided to make
an agreement with
France
This was the ENTENTE
CORDIALE
Alliance four 1907
Britain then made a
similar agreement with
Russia
Russia was already in
alliance with France
This was called the
TRIPLE ENTENTE
Two ARMED CAMPS
By 1907 Europe was
clearly divided.
On the other was the
TRIPLE ENTENTE
On one side was the
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
GERMANY
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
ITALY
GREAT BRITAIN
FRANCE
RUSSIA
Two ARMED CAMPS
Both alliances were powerful and well armed
If an argument started between two of them it
would spread rapidly