The Road to World War I

Congress of Berlin Dominated by Bismarck Demolished the Treaty of San Stefano much to Russia’s humiliation New Bulgarian state considerably reduced Rest of territory returned to Ottoman control 3 Balkan states of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania were recognized as independent Bosnia and Herzegovina were placed under Austrian protection

Colonial Rivalries : Africa in 1914

Colonial Rivalries: Asia in 1914

New Alliances After the Congress of Berlin, the European powers sought new alliances to safeguard their security In an attempt to isolate France, Bismarck formed a military alliance with Austria-Hungary in years later they were joined by Italy in 1882 – the Triple Alliance was committed to support the existing political order while providing a defensive alliance against France to 2 or more great powers not members of the alliance Bismarck also sought to remain on friendly terms with the Russians and signed the Reinsurance Treaty in 1887 hoping to prevent a French-Russian alliance thus not have to face a 2 front war Bismarckian system of alliances, geared to preserving peace and status quo, had worked but in 1890, Emperor William II dismissed Bismarck and began to chart a new direction for Germany’s foreign policy

The British Empire in 1914

Germany and New Balance of Power Germany’s industrial capacity, population, and military power all dramatically increased. By 1900, Germany produced more steel than Great Britain and France combined. Germany’s population increased from 41 million in 1871 to 64 million in In contrast France had just 40 million people in European leaders from Cardinal Richelieu to Prince Klemons von Metternich had feared a united Germany. Their fears now became a reality.

New Directions Emperor William II embarked on an activist foreign policy dedicated to enhancing German power by finding “Germany’s rightful place in the sun” –dropped Reinsurance Treaty Viewed as being at odds with Germany’s alliance with Austria –This brought France and Russia together Next 10 years, German policies abroad caused the British to draw closer to France –William II challenged Britain’s long-standing naval supremacy by embarking on an expensive program of naval expansion that poisoned relations between the 2 countries 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance 1904 Entente Cordiale = alliance between France and GB 1907 Great Britain, France, and Russia allied as the Triple Entente Europe was divided into 2 opposing camps that became more and more inflexible and unwilling to compromise –2 rival alliances – any dispute could easily escalate into a major war

Europe in 1914

Balkan Powder Keg As the power of the Ottoman Empire receded, the Balkan Peninsula became a powder keg of competing interests. With the exception of the Greeks and the Romanians, most of the Balkan population spoke the same Slavic language. Many Slavs embraced Pan-Slavism, a nationalist movement to unite all Slavic peoples. Bismarck recognized the potential danger of nationalist aspirations in the Balkans. –At the 1878 Congress of Berlin, he tried to reduce tensions by supporting Serbian independence and Austria-Hungary’s right to “occupy and administer” Bosnia and Herzegovina. The newly independent nation of Serbia quickly became the leader of the Pan-Slavic movement. –Serbian leaders hoped to unite the Slavs in the same way Piedmont had united the Italians and Prussia the Germans.

The Balkans in 1878

Balkan Powder Keg Austria felt threatened by the growth of Slavic nationalism within its borders and across the Balkans. In 1908, the Austrians enraged the Serbs by annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian nationalism threatened Austria. At the same time, it offered Slavic Russia an opportunity to advance its interests in the Balkans. Russia and Austria-Hungary were thus on a collision course in the Balkans. As one Balkan crisis followed another, Europe tottered on the brink of war.

The Balkan Wars:

The Balkans in 1914