Warm Up Activity How can defensive alliances lead to stability or instability in the world?

A PRELUDE TO WAR The Alliance System

Objectives Today we will be able to identify how European rivalries led to the alliance system that would become one of many catalysts for the outbreak of the Great War.

19 th Century European Rivalries France vs. Germany Austria Hungary vs. Slavs Germany vs. Russia (Pan Slavism) Great Britain vs. Russia

France vs. Germany The outcome of Franco- Prussian War.  France loses Alsace- Lorraine.  Resource rich, wealthy,  strategic for France since the 16 th century Colonial rivalries  Post-Bismarck Germany competed for Mediterranean and North African colonies.

Austria Hungary vs. Sub-Nationalities Dominant Austrians and Hungarians were satisfied with the situation in central Europe. All other nationalities living in the Empire were not.  Czechs and Slovaks, Romanians, and South Slavs (Slovenes, Croats, and SERBS!!!)  Russia challenged Austro- Hungarian influence in the Balkans due to Pan-Slavism

Germany vs. Russia Russia fanned the flames of Serbian nationalism in the Balkans which threatened the existence of the Austro Hungarian empire. This made Austria Hungary very dependent on their alliance with Germany.

Great Britain vs. Russia British policy in the Balkans was based on keeping Russia from controlling access to the Dardanelles and the straight of Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire was the obstacle in the way of Russian control of this important geographical feature. Great Britain became a protector of the Turkish Ottomans.

The Alliance System Based on three predicaments  French and German hatred.  Competing interests of Russia and Austria- Hungary in the Balkans.  Germany’s fear of being attacked from the east and west by Russia and France.

The Triple Alliance Germany and Austria created a defensive alliance aimed at mitigating Russian expansion in the Balkans. Germany and Austria- Hungary included Italy in an alliance. This alienated Russia and made them at odds with not only Austria-Hungary, but with Germany as well.

France and Russia’s Dual Alliance A defensive alliance between Russia and France. This ended France’s diplomatic isolation.

Britain and France sign the Entente Cordiale Britain and France were able to put their hatred aside and signed this “friendly agreement” in 1901 which ended Britain’s diplomatic isolation and strengthened France’s position in Europe. Why sign?  G.B. needed friends  G.B. relations with Germany soured  German influence in Turkey  German economic growth made G.B. nervous.

The Triple Entente The alliance between France, Great Britain and Russia.

The Constitution of the “Black Hand” Read the excerpt of the Constitution of the Black Hand. Respond: “How does this document illustrate the forces leading Europe to war in the early twentieth century?”