Discussion  What might happen if a member of one alliance went to war? If a member of one alliance went to war against a member of the other alliance, all six countries could become involved in a war.

Background  The Triple Alliance was formed when Italy sought help to defend itself against threats from France. Under the terms of the alliance, Germany and Austria-Hungary, who already were allies, would help Italy if it were attacked by France. Italy also promised to help Germany if Germany were attacked by France. Despite these commitments, Italy reached its own separate agreement with France in 1902, in which the countries agreed that neither would participate in an attack on the other. The Triple Entente developed from several previous European alliances, including the 1894 alliance between France and Russia and the 1904 Entente Cordiale between France and Great Britain.

Discussion  Why do you think that nationalism led to competition, rather than cooperation, among the nations of Europe? Rivalries developed over colonies and trade.

European Militarism and Alliances  Industrialization aids expansion of armies and navies  Conscription  Aggressive preparation for war  Competing sets of alliances  Internal dissent  Labor strife and class division

Discussion  Which effects of technology are common to all wars, and which were unique to World War I? trench warfare had unique consequences

Draft  What does it mean to get drafted into the military? If you get drafted you have to enlist in the military. The word draft has many meanings. Related meanings of draft are used to refer to a political candidate's being drafted to run for office and an athlete's being drafted to play for a certain team.

Discussion  Do you think the outbreak of war in 1914 was inevitable? Why or why not? The increasing tensions and aggressive plans for mobilization suggest that leaders had little doubt that war was coming.