1. GERMANY IN 1871
The creation of a single Germany state had been a long- standing ambition of most German-speaking peoples. This was achieved in 1871, under the leadership of Prussia.
Otto von Bismarck
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR
France had been the dominant European power before the creation of Germany. France had tried to stop unification by going to war with Prussia in She was humiliatingly defeated. Germany took the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
France wanted revenge. Germany made sure her armed forces were stronger than France’s.

2. 1888 – A NEW EMPEROR FOR GERMANY
KAISER WILHELM II ( )
HIS PERSONAL AMBITIONS:
KAISER WILHELM II
Kaiser Wilhelm II was obsessed with making Germany not only a European power but a world power.
Wilhelm’s actions increased tensions and distrust amongst the European powers.
Germany became caught in an arms race on two fronts – military with France, naval with Britain.

3. FRANCE IN 1871
REVOLUTIONS –
France had been the dominant power in Europe for almost 200 years.
French defeat by Prussia, and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine, was a deep humiliation to French pride.
France was determined to have revenge. She began to build up her armed forces.

4. RUSSIA IN 1871 TSAR NICHOLAS II (1894-1917
Russia had been France’s most powerful continental rival during the Napoleonic Wars.
During the 19th century, Russia turned away from European affairs to concentrate on expansion eastwards into Asia.
Russia’s position weakened during the course of the 19th century. She, largely, remained a peasant society, with little industry, and ruled by repression.

5. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY IN 1871
Austria had been the traditional power of Central Europe for several centuries. Like France she, too, went to war with Prussia to prevent German union and she, too, was defeated (in 1866).
Franz-Joseph
Austria was a weakening power, and after 1871 her main concern was with extending her influence into the Balkan area of southern Europe.
The internal divisions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself also became more apparent, and weakened Austria’s position as a European power.

6. GREAT BRITAIN IN 1871
ROYAL NAVY – PROTECTOR OF THE EMPIRE
QUEEN VICTORIA
INDUSTRIALISATION,
EMPIRE AND TRADE
Britain was the first country to ‘industrialise’. This gave Britain a huge advantage, and she became rich and powerful.
She possessed the world’s largest empire, ruling over a quarter of the Earth’s territory.
Her main concerns were with protecting her empire and developing trade.
Britain did not involve itself too in European political and military affairs. She only stepped in when she felt the ‘balance of power’ was threatened.