1. The road to war I The alliance system II International rivalry

2. International rivalry before 1914  The role of Germany  The arms race  Colonial rivalry  Crises in Morocco and the Balkans

3. The role of Germany Creates suspicion and tension – especially after 1890

4. Role of Germany – Kaiser Wilhelm II  Personal ambitions for a strong Germany  Unpredictable and interfering  Up sets Britain and others Eg Kruger telegram 1896, Daily Telegraph affair 1908, refuses to renew Reinsurance treaty with Russia

5. The role of Germany Militarism strong – Eg captain of Kopenick!

6. The role of Germany- WELTPOLITIK WWWWeltpolitik – use it to get mass support for the kaiser and the ruling elite SSSSeats won by the Social Democratic Party in parliament Yearseats 189035 1912110

7. Weltpolitik  Increase German prestige abroad – get involved in international politics  « drang nach osten »  Berlin – Baghdad railway  « Place in the sun »

8. Naval arms race  Tirpitz and Navy laws, 1898, 1900  « risk theory »  Britain - the TWO POWER STANDARD  Naval Arms race starts.

9. HMS Dreadnought 1906 HMS Dreadnought 1906  Armour plating  Guns  speed;

10. The Naval arms race intensifies  « we want 8 and we won’t wait »  Kiel canal - opened 1914  Navy league influential in Br and Ger  Created impression Br & Ger enemies

11. Colonial rivalry  Not much interest in colonies up to the 1870s  New Imperialism  Scramble for Africa 1870-1900  Struggle for China 1895 - 1905

12. Reasons for the « new imperialism »  Economic motives  National security  Nationalism and national prestige  Social Darwinism « survival of the fittest »

13. How serious were colonial rivalries?  On occasions they damaged relationships eg Fashoda crisis 1898, Moroccan crises 1905, 1911  Overall the conflicts were a long way from home – they did not cause the war to start.

14. CRISES - in Morocco  First Moroccan crisis 1905/06  Germany wanted to test the strength of the Entente Cordiale.  1905, Kaiser lands in Tangiers & demands » open door » in Morocco

15. CRISES - in Morocco  Conference held at Algeciras 1906  Germany defeated & Br and Fr closer together  Germany makes the Schlieffen plan, France – plan 17

16. The Schlieffen plan

17. CRISES - in Morocco  2nd Moroccan crisis 1911 – the Agadir crisis  French troops Vs rebels  German gunboat – the Panther sent to Agadir  Br and Fr hold firm  Lloyd George – Mansion House speech  Germany backs down BUT public opinion furious with Britain

18. CRISES – in the Balkans  Bosnian crisis 1908  Austria annexes Bosnia  Germany supports Austria  Russia furious and humiliated – won’t let that happen again!  Serbia angry – hostile to Austria

19. CRISES – in the Balkans TTTThe First Balkans war 1912 BBBBalkan league attacks Turkey WWWWould Russia or Austria get involved? IIIInternational peace settlement arranged SSSSerbia angry because Austria blockes her access to the sea. WWWWar Council meeting in Germany

21. TTTThe second Balkans war 1913 BBBBulgarians unhappy with the peace settlement BBBBulgaria attacks Serbia OOOOther Balkan countries help Serbia BBBBr and Ger stop Austria from helping Bulgaria

22. CCCConsequences of the second Balkan war SSSSerbia strengthened and ready to stir up trouble for Austria AAAAustria determined to end Serbia’s ambitions ( a preventative war ) GGGGermany thought Britain would co- operate if there was another crisis

23. SSSSarajevo 28th June 1914 AAAArchduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated AAAAustria sees a chance to finish Serbia GGGGets « blank cheque » from Germany UUUUltimatum to Serbia, then war declared RRRRussia mobilises GGGGermany launches Schlieffen plan BBBBritain declares war

24. The First world war begins July / August 1914 July / August 1914