By Nicholas Rivera Tom McCabe Noah Andriella

 Ottoman Empire still controlled central strip of the Balkan Peninsula  In 1908, a group called the Young Turks seized power in the Ottoman Empire.  The Young Turks threatened to breath new life into the empire and their actions would lead to tension between other Europeans that would eventually lead to war.

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 Austria and Russia decided to work together in order to prevent Turkey from becoming strong enough to resist them.  1908, the Austrian & Russian govt.’s agreed that Russia would support the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  In return Austria would back opening the Dardanelles to Russian warships.

 However, Austria declared the annexation before Russia could act.  The British & French refused to agree to Russian demand to open the Dardanelles for they were supportive of the Young Turks.  Russia was humiliated but was not strong enough to do anything about it but protest.  Austria’s actions enraged Russia and their “little brothers” the Serbs.

 Germany was unhappy with Austria because their actions threatened their relations with Russia & Turkey.  Germany was dependent on the Dual Alliance so they needed to support Austria.  The whole ordeal caused tension in the Triple Entente as Britain and France couldn’t oppose Russian interest anymore for fear of ruining their alliance.

 In 1911 France sent an Army to Morocco where German forces went to “protect German interest” as a means to extort colonial concessions in the French Congo.  Germany sent the gunboat Panther to Moroccan port Agadir to “protect” German citizens.  Germany’s arrival at Agadir provoked strong reactions in Britain.  German actions threatened Britain’s security forcing them to increase taxes to pay for new armaments.

 Britain wrongly believed Germany meant to turn Agadir into a naval base.  Crisis ended when France yielded bits of the Congo and Germany recognized the French protectorate over Morocco  Crisis brought Britain and France closer with British troops being sent to France in case of German attack and the cooperation of the British & French navies.