Long-term Causes of WWI IB History of the America’s Year 2 Quarter 1 Causes, Practices, and Effects of War

Vocab/Basic Information Kaiser Wilhelm I – 1 st ruler of Germany Otto Von Bismarck – Chancellor Alliances – joining of 2 or more powers Front – lines where fighting is taking place Blockade – preventing goods entering or exiting Indemnity – money or goods that is received as compensation for damage or loss Kaiser Wilhelm II – 2 nd ruler of Germany, took over 1888 Leo von Caprivi – Chancellor took over for Bismarck in 1890 Imperialism – Empire building; Gaining of colonial power Entente – French word meaning Understanding

What was happening Franco-Prussian War ( ) – Prussia defeated France 39 separate Germanic states – largest were Austria & Prussia Objective was to make a larger Germanic state Prussia beats Austria and then France Prussia humiliates French army Uses railroad (new technology) to move resources France lost Territory (Alsace-Lorraine), had to pay indemnity, occupied France until paid German unification, new power in Europe France’s position was undetermined New war strategies – modern warfare, move fast, well trained, leaders must be knowledgeable

Bismarck’s Alliances The Dreikaiserbund or Three Emperors’ League (1873)  Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungry  Terms were vague but kept France isolated The Dual Alliance (1879)  Dreikaiserbund fell apart when Austria-Hungry got into a conflict with Russia in the Balkans  Bismarck made an agreement to work with Austria- Hungry if Russia wanted to wage war  Both countries agreed to remain neutral if other European countries attacked one or the other

Bismarck’s Alliances Continued The Three Emperors’ Alliance (1881)  Russia felt isolated and struck up revised version of Drieskaiserbund – this offered Bismarck added security  Terms offered Russia, Germany or Austria if at war with other countries would remain neutral The Triple Alliance (1882)  Between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy  If any were attacked by 2 or more countries, the alliance would lend assistance The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)  Three Emperors’ Alliance fell apart due to Balkan problems in 1885  Separate treaty was written to avoid risk of war on two fronts  Bismarck had to make sure Germany stayed friendly with Russia

Questions: from reading pg Explain the new Course. 2.Explain Weltpolitik. 3.Explain how Imperialism helped fuel tension. 4.Explain the emergence of the alliance system. What is its importance? 5.What was the key piece that caused the naval race to take place? 6.Explain each countries connection to the Balkans.

Answers 1.Wilhelm II & Caprivi overturned Bismarck’s careful orchestration of alliances, allowed treaties to lapse, political clause in alliances agreeing to support in imperial disputes, clause was anti-British and freed France from isolation 2.Policy they hoped would make Germany a colonial power with an overseas empire and navy; hopefully diverting the German people from its social and political problems 3.Countries wanted to claim land initially for economic reasons and then for the belief of Western Civilization was dominant; Germany wanted its influence felt outside Europe like Britain

Answers Continued 4.It became a type of Chess match; strategic placement just in case of war – it cause Germany to feel encircled because of the “Triple Entente” (Russia, France, Britain); Europe was divided into 2 alliances – Triple Entente & Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungry, Italy) 5.The HMS Dreadnought – super-battleship Britain created; made all other battleships obsolete so essentially both sides started the race back at zero

Answers Continued 6. 3 countries Turkey – had once controlled all; lost Serbs, Greeks and Bulgars; struggle to hold onto remaining territories Austria-Hungry – by 1900 were losing grip on multi-ethnic empire; Southern Slavs (Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) pushed for independence and looked to support from Serbia (look at as threat to Austria-Hung.) Russia – Sympathized with Slavs; wanted straits of Constantinople for shipping (warm water ports); wanted to capitalize on Turkey’s declining power