War and Revolution CH. 16

The Road to World War I Sec 1

Beginning of 1900s – Peace and harmony in Europe – Darker side Developments would propel Europe into War Rising Tensions in Europe

Unifying force Cause intense competition between nations – Seek to overpower each other Rivalries develop – Great Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, GB, Russia, Italy, France The Rise of Nationalism

Causes of rivalries – Competition for materials and markets – Territorial disputes – Ethnic groups demand independence

Europeans compete over Africa and Asia Quest for colonies pushed nations to brink of war Competition leads to sense of rivalry and mistrust Imperialism

Arms race developed in Europe – To be great, countries need to have powerful army – 1914 – all Great Powers, except GB have large standing army – Experts stress importance of quick mobilization Ability to get troops ready for war Growth of Militarism

Militarism – Policy of glorifying military power – Keeping army prepared for war – Large and strong army made citizens feel patriotic Frightens some

Rivalries and mistrust led to creation of alliances – Great Powers form military alliances Alliance system designed to keep peace develops – Helped cause a war Tangled Alliances

Bismarck Forges Early Pacts – Saw France as biggest threat Thought they wanted revenge for losing Franco-Prussian War Goal was to isolate France

1879 – Dual Alliance – Germany and Austria Hungary Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy 1881 – treaty w/ Russia

1890 – Kaiser Wilhelm II forces Bismarck to resign – Didn’t want to share power – Eager to show power of Germany Shifting Alliances Threaten Peace

Wilhelm does things differently – Treaty w/Russia ends in 1890 Russia forms alliance w/France – 1892 and 1894 – War w/France or Russia would make Germany enemy of both Could be forced to fight two-front war

Began massive shipbuilding program – Make German navy equal to GB Moves alarm GB – 1904 – forms alliance w/France Wilhelm decides to challenge GB

Triple Entente – 1907 – Russia, France, GB – Did not bind GB to fight w/France and Russia – Ensured GB would not fight against them

Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance – Conflict could draw entire continent into war

“Powder Keg of Europe” – Mountainous peninsula in southeastern Europe – Home to assortment of ethnic groups Long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic conflict Crisis in the Balkans

Ottoman Empire in rapid decline – New nations formed Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia – Nationalism is powerful force Groups want to grow in size A Restless Region

Serbia – Large Slavic population Wanted to absorb all Slavs on Balkan peninsula – Russia and Austria-Hungary in direct conflict Russia – supports Slavic nationalism Austria – threatened by growth