Emergence of the Alliance System Mr. Meester AP European History

Loss of the Balance of Power With the creation of Germany the Balance of Power created at the Congress of Vienna is upset. Russia was weakened (Crimean War) Austria was threaten by Nationalism French power & prestige was damaged (Franco-Prussian) Britain was threatened economically Bismarck had achieved his goal of unification but still felt threatened by France Wanted to prevent an alliance between them & either Russia or Austria

War in the Balkans Bismarck created the 3 Emperor’s League Germany, Austria, & Russia Soon collapsed due to the Russo-Turkish War 1877 The weakness of the Ottoman Empire resulted in the Slavs in the Balkans to revolt. Russia entered the war to help the Slavic people Began the Pan-Slavic movement Austria worried about Russian influence on the Slavic people within its empire.

Congress of Berlin Britain & Austria forced Russia to meet to review the provisions of the peace treaty They met in Berlin under Bismarck Reflects Germany’s growing importance & the fact that Germany wanted to keep the peace Germany didn’t want any territory Russia took a big hit Bulgaria lost 2/3rds of its territory Austria, Britain, & France gained territory to offset Russia’s additional territory Germany gained nothing but Russian resentment

German Alliances Due to Russia’s anger over the Berlin Congress Germany formed a secret alliance with Austria The Dual Alliance promised to help each other in the event of a Russian attack Would remain neutral in all other cases Was purely a defensive agreement Bismarck didn’t believe Czarist Russia would seek alliances with the democratic western nations Was able to renew the 3 Emperors League

The Triple Alliance Italy angered by France imperialist expansion in Tunisia sought to join the Dual Alliance Germany was further isolating France Was becoming more difficult to maintain the secret alliances The 3 Emperor’s League lapsed The Triple Alliance was maintained A new king William II would cause Bismarck problems He wished to expand & become the dominant nation in Europe Bismarck held him in check & wanted a limited peaceful Germany

Europe after Bismarck Soon after Bismarck’s retirement his alliance started to collapse France & Russia formed an alliance Britain had traditionally been against both the French & the Russians Now however Britain viewed Germany under William II as a threat economically & militarily Britain had also stayed out of the alliances Refused Germany’s offer to join the Triple Alliance Germany responded by blocking Britain’s imperialist policies in Africa They also began to build a naval fleet to rival Britains

The Triple Entente Due to German aggression Britain was forced to start seeking alliances 1904 they agreed to the Entente Cordiale Not a military treaty but one that dealt with colonial disputes Was the first British-French agreement William II spoke in favor of Moroccan independence against France Wanted to show France to be weak Most other nations sided with the French German expansion in the Middle East caused Russia and Britain to put aside their differences forming the Triple Entente