1. After Napoleon was defeated….
1815, Congress of Vienna, also became known as the “Concert of Europe”. Designed to create a balance of power, oppose nationalism, revolutionary elements and create a lasting peace. Many historians argue that this Congress really sought to restore European status to BEFORE the French Revolution.
Congress had no written rules or permanent institutions, but at times of crisis, any member nation could propose a conference
Concert of Europe slowly broke down over the 19th century due to many factors:
1848 Revolutions (many countries in Europe and Latin America affected)
Surge of nationalism and anti-imperialism among nations who wanted sovereignty, government participation, freedom of the press, better conditions, etc
Crimean War
German Unification (under Emperor Wilhelm I of Prussia) 1871
Italian Risorgimento
Eastern Question
Yet despite all this, leading into the 1900s, many Europeans thought peace could still be maintained…

2. Setting the Stage for War: Origins of World War 1
WWI

3. Setting the Stage
Alfred Nobel, Women’s International League, and the First Universal Peace Conference all believed their efforts could prevent or encourage the end of war

4. Setting the Stage
First Universal Peace Conference – set up Hague Tribunal, which was a world court to help settle disputes between nations (1899)

5. Setting the Stage Powerful forces were pushing Europe to brink of war
Aggressive nationalism
Economic competition
Imperialism
Arms race (militarism)
Alliance System

6. Later, at the beginning of the 20th century…..
In the early 1900s, militarism caused an arms race to develop between European nations.
Britain felt threatened by German factories out-producing British factories.
France and Germany almost went to war twice in a competition for colonies.
European nations began forming alliances in an attempt to ward off outside attacks.

7. Setting the Stage
France and Germany were brought to brink of war due to competition for colonies (imperialism), nationalism, and German occupation of provinces Alsace and Lorraine

8. Setting the Stage
In Eastern Europe, Russia sponsored strong type of nationalism called Pan - Slavism

9. Setting the Stage
Pan- Slavism – belief that all Slavic people share a common nationality

10. Setting the Stage
By 1914, Balkans had become known as “Powder Keg” because of many nationalistic rivalries

11. Setting the Stage Alliances form: Allies Central Powers
France, Britain, and Russia Germany and Austria/Hungry

12. Setting the Stage
Main intention of alliances formed among European nations was to discourage outside attacks.

13. Closure
Alliances

14. Closure
Why the Alliance system failed to meet its initial goal.