GERMANY IN 1871 The creation of a single Germany state had been a long- standing ambition of most German-speaking peoples. This was achieved in 1871, under the leadership of Prussia. Otto von Bismarck THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1870-1871 France had been the dominant European power before the creation of Germany. France had tried to stop unification by going to war with Prussia in 1870. She was humiliatingly defeated. Germany took the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. France wanted revenge. Germany made sure her armed forces were stronger than France’s.

1888 – A NEW EMPEROR FOR GERMANY KAISER WILHELM II (1888-1918) HIS PERSONAL AMBITIONS: KAISER WILHELM II Kaiser Wilhelm II was obsessed with making Germany not only a European power but a world power. Wilhelm’s actions increased tensions and distrust amongst the European powers. Germany became caught in an arms race on two fronts – military with France, naval with Britain.

FRANCE IN 1871 REVOLUTIONS – 1830 +1848 France had been the dominant power in Europe for almost 200 years. French defeat by Prussia, and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine, was a deep humiliation to French pride. France was determined to have revenge. She began to build up her armed forces.

RUSSIA IN 1871 TSAR NICHOLAS II (1894-1917 Russia had been France’s most powerful continental rival during the Napoleonic Wars. During the 19th century, Russia turned away from European affairs to concentrate on expansion eastwards into Asia. Russia’s position weakened during the course of the 19th century. She, largely, remained a peasant society, with little industry, and ruled by repression.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY IN 1871 Austria had been the traditional power of Central Europe for several centuries. Like France she, too, went to war with Prussia to prevent German union and she, too, was defeated (in 1866). Franz-Joseph Austria was a weakening power, and after 1871 her main concern was with extending her influence into the Balkan area of southern Europe. The internal divisions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself also became more apparent, and weakened Austria’s position as a European power.

GREAT BRITAIN IN 1871 ROYAL NAVY – PROTECTOR OF THE EMPIRE QUEEN VICTORIA INDUSTRIALISATION, EMPIRE AND TRADE Britain was the first country to ‘industrialise’. This gave Britain a huge advantage, and she became rich and powerful. She possessed the world’s largest empire, ruling over a quarter of the Earth’s territory. Her main concerns were with protecting her empire and developing trade. Britain did not involve itself too in European political and military affairs. She only stepped in when she felt the ‘balance of power’ was threatened.