German Empire & Alliance Systems ( )

Bismarck Leadership Goals –No further territorial gains –France (friend or isolation) Friend  support French colonial expansion Isolation  prevent alliances with France

War in the Balkans –Three Emperor’s League (1873) Three great conservative powers –Germany, A-H, Russia »Failed  War in the Balkans (Russo- Turkish War) –British concerned about the balance of power Russia wins Balkan war –Threaten Suez canal

Congress of Berlin Britain, Germany, Russia, A-H –Bismarck led: emphasize Germany’s growing importance Avoid war between A-H and Russia Settlement –Russia loses land –A-H & Britain gain Because they allowed Russia to get land –Germany  Russian resentment

Impact on Balkans RESENTMENT –Serbia Resented Austrian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Threat to peace –Slavic question –Russia & Germany relations diminish

Germany, Russia, Austria Secret Treaty: Germany & A-H –Dual Alliance Attacked by Russia  aid each other Other conflict  neutrality –Consequence Austrian problem on Germany Isolate Russia Three Emperor’s League –A-H, Germany, Russia Agreement: Balkan conflict CAN NOT lead to World War

The Triple Alliance Germany, Italy, A-H –Isolate France Kaiser Wilhelm II (Divine Right) –Germany was a great power (destiny) –Dismissed Bismarck (disagreed on Britain) Bismarck’s alliance system collapsed

Forging the Triple Entente

Franco-Russian Alliance –German Caprivi (Bismarck’s successor) Refused to renew Russian Treaty –Russia turns to France Britain VS Germany –Wilhelm II made Britain an enemy of Germany Economic rivalry Foreign & naval policies

Britain ends Isolation Japan & G.B. –Protect Asian colonies from Russia France & G.B. –Entente Cordiale Settle colonial differences –France  Morocco Russia & G.B. –Russo-Japanese War ( ) Russia loses G.B. did not get involved Diminish G.B. fear of Russia

Moroccan Crisis Germany & A.H. VS France & G.B. –Germany tests alliance Supported Morocco’s independence –Result Drove France & G.B. closer together –Mutually dependent

Britain & Russia Why join Russia? –Germany influence in Near East Growing naval power –French relationship with Russia Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance –GB, France, Russia vs. –Germany, A-H, Italy (unreliable) Who was in charge? Two front war? Rely only on Austria (the weaker link)