1. INTERNATIONAL RIVALRIES AND CRISES IN THE BALKANS

2. International Rivalries in Europe
Bismarck realizes Germany’s emergence as a powerful nation upset the balance of power established at the Congress of Vienna
Fears that Frances intends to create an anti-German alliance
Makes a defensive alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879
Italy joins in 1882 and the alliance is known as the Triple Alliance
Bismarck maintains a separate treaty with Russia and tries to remain on good terms with Britain - has isolated France

3. 1890 Emperor Wilhelm II fires Bismarck and starts a policy dedicated to enhancing Germany’s power
Drops treaty with Russia when it comes up for renewal
This brings Russia and France together and they form a military alliance in 1894
Over the next ten years Germany’s policies abroad, especially concerning the desire for a large navy and foreign empire, causes Britain to draw closer to France
1907 Triple Entente formed by France, Russia, and Great Britain
Europe now dangerously divided into two opposing camps

4. New Alliances Triple Alliance Triple Entente
European nations hoped these alliances would keep the peace
Instead it causes smaller conflicts to turn into much larger global wars
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy
France
Great Britain
Russia

5. The Moroccan Crisis
First Moroccan Crisis (1905) – Germany sends navy ships to France’s colony of Morocco
Demands the colony and calls a Congress of European nations to decide the matter
The only nation to side with Germany is Austria-Hungary
Second Moroccan Crisis (1908) – Germany sends a warship to Morocco and demands the colony and the French Congo as well
Forced once again by other European nations to back down
France is angry since Germany has tried to steal their colonies twice

6. Crises in the Balkans
Over the 19th century the Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire gradually gained their freedom
By 1878 Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Montenegro become independent states
Bulgaria is placed under the protection of Russia and Bosnia-Herzegovina under the protection of Austria-Hungary
In 1908 A-H annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serbia is outraged – this dashes their hopes of creating “Greater Serbia”
Wanted to create a large Serbian kingdom that would unite all Serbs living outside the current borders

7. Serbia begins to prepare for war
Serbia’s ally Russia also opposes the annexation
They start preparing for war to back the Serbs
Germany demands that Russia accept Austria-Hungary’s annexation or face war with Germany
Russia, weakened by defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, backs down
However they vow revenge and state they won’t back down next time
Tension is high in Europe over the Balkan problem
Serbs blame A-H for their failure to create “Greater Serbia”
Two short wars in the Balkans

8. Two short wars in the Balkans
1912 = Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece declare war on the Ottoman Empire
1913 = Serbia, Greece, Romania, and the Ottomans go to war against Bulgaria