Bismarcks Alliance System

What Bismarck has joined, let

no country put asunder (with
apologies to marriage vows)

Treaty of Frankfurt 1871

France had to pay 5 billion francs in 5 years

Germany took Alsace & half of Lorraine
Residents had until Oct. 1872 to decide
whether to move to stay in France or
become German citizens
German troops occupied northern France
until the indemnity was paid; France had to
pay the costs of the occupation
Est. Third Republic in France

Britain

Suspicious of any country that could threaten

lines of communication in their empire
Saw Russia as a threat
Splendid isolationconcentrating on domestic
issues, empire, Ireland
Conflict with France in Africa & Asia
Wont sign treaties to commit to future action

Russia

Alexander II tsar until 1881, then Alexander

III until 1894
Instituting reforms; industrialization
Pan-slavismexpansion into Balkans
Wanted a useful warm water port, such as
Port Arthur or port in Persia or from the
Black Sea through the Bosporus into the
Mediterranean

Austria-Hungary

Opposed Russian expansion into the Balkans

Austrias interest in the Balkans was economic
pork & railroads
Multi-ethnic; opposed nationalistic movements
within Austria and in the Balkans
Later Germany became dependant on
Austrian friendship

France

Concentrated on revancherevenge
Goal to get Alsace-Lorraine back
Paid off indemnity sooner than Germany
thought could occur
Paid off in 1873; German soldiers left
France
Showed strength of French economy
Germany believed Frances strong economy
would allow France to reorganize & rebuild
its army

Germany

Wanted to avoid an anti-German coalition

Wanted security from potential foreign threat
Avoid a two-front war
William Is son married Queen Victorias oldest
daughter
Bismarck wanted very little British influence in
German government; disliked Britains more
democratic two party system
Encouraged French colonial expansion as a way
to distract France from European conditions

League of the Three Emperors

1873

Austria, Russia, Germany

Mutual consultation and support in matters
of international importance
Maintain existing territorial arrangements in
Europe
Resist spread of revolutionary movements
Stop spread of republican ideas
Goal to isolate France diplomatically

Is War in Sight?
Article in Berliner Post 1875

Bismarck worried about Frances ability to rearm

France wanted to purchase 10,000 saddle horses
This type of purchase usually a sign of preparation
for war
Bismarck banned export of horses to France
Article then appeared in the Berliner Post
Germany viewed as aggressor against France
Russia backed British protest to Germany
Incident showed that France was not totally isolated

Secret Austro-German Alliance

or Dual Alliance 1879

Because of results of the Congress of Berlin 1878,

Russia refused to renew Three Emperors League
Bismarck wanted a general treaty of mutual
assistance if attacked by a third power
Austria was getting along with France so wanted
to mention Russia in the treaty
Termswould support the other if attacked by
Russia or Russia & a third power
Would be neutral if attacked by any other power
Renewed every five years until 1918

Alliance of the Three Emperors or

2nd League of the Three Emperors

Negotiated 1881; Alexander II had died &

Alexander III was in favor of an alliance to help
suppress revolutionary movements
Pledged the three members to neutrality if one
was attacked by a 4th country
Divided the Balkans into spheres of influence
Austria in the west, Russia in the east
Agreed to consult one another if there were
another Balkan crisis
For three years; renewed once in 1884

Triple Alliance
1882

Italy, Germany, Austria

Italy was mad at France when France annexed
Tunis; Italy wanted to build its own empire in
Africa
If Italy or Germany were attacked by France, the
other would come to their aid
If Austria were attacked by Russia, Italy would
be neutral; but Austria would aid Italy if Italy
attacked by France
If any country attacked by two or more
countries, the others would come to its aid

Problems of Italian alliance

Italy wanted land Austria controlled Italian

Irredenta
Italy eventually got over their anger at France
taking Tunis
Establishment of a republican government in
France that would not help the Pope retake Rome
& Papal states from Italy by 1900
Italy established several secret treaties with
France in 1900 & 1902 each promised
neutrality if provoked into war with a third party

Mediterranean Agreement
1887

Italy, Austria, Great Britain

All agree to maintain the status quo in the
Mediterranean
All agree to prevent foreign domination of
the Ottoman Empire
Designed to be a barrier to French &
Russian expansion

Reinsurance Treaty
1887

The Alliance of the Three Emperors fell apart due

to problems in the Balkans
Secret treaty; Austria not told
Germany & Russia agreed to be neutral if the
other became involved in a war
Exception if Germany attacked France or
Russia attacked Austria
Treaty not renewed in 1890

Willhelm II of Germany
1859-1941

Willhelm Is grandson & Queen Victorias grandson

Kaiser of Germany 1888-1918; controlled supreme
military & executive power
Believed that Germany needed its place in the sun
He loved the military and was restless; tried to
upstage the British
Wanted a navy as large as his grandmothers navy
Believed in Weltpolitikworld politicsno real
goals other than glory

Quotes

Willhelm II As for having to sink my ideas and

feelings at the bidding of the people that is a thing
unheard of in Prussian history or the traditions of
my House. What the German Emperor, King of
Prussia thinks right and best for his people he
does.

British politician Earl Grey The German

Emperor is like a battleship with steam up and
screws going, but with no rudder, and he will run
into something someday and cause a
catastrophe.

End of Reinsurance Treaty

1890

William II became Kaiser in 1888; believed

Germanys alliance with Austria was more
important than its alliance with Russia
While Bismarck had not pursued colonial
expansion, William II wanted colonies and navy
Bismarck had promoted peaceful relations with
Britain, but William II antagonized Britain
William II fired Bismarck in 1890 and the alliance
system unraveled

Russo-French Rapprochement
1894

Traditionally, it was believed an alliance between

France & Russia was impossible
Russia was autocratic; France was republican
However France had given several large
loans to Russia
Both wanted to offset Germanys military threat
Each would support the other if attacked by
Germany or another member of the Triple
Alliance aided by Germany

Anglo-Japanese Alliance
1902

After 1895 victory over China, Japan had been

forced to give back territorial gains; they are
looking for a powerful alliance
It is an anti-French & anti-Russian alliance
Britain wanted to end their isolation
Both countries would be neutral if the other
involved in a war with only one country
They would come to each others aid if attacked
by more than one country

Entente Cordiale
1904

France & Britain; Edward VII favored an alliance

with France, rather than with Germany
Settled colonial disputes between the two
countries, especially in Africa
France recognized Egypt & Sudan as British
Britain recognized Morocco as French
Both would support the other if a third country
challenged their spheres

Anglo-Russian Entente
1907

Britain lost its fear of Russia after Russia was

defeated in the Russo-Japanese War
Both countries felt threatened by Germany
The entente resolved colonial competition
between the two countries in Persia &
Afghanistan
Russo-French Rapprochement + Entente
Cordiale + Anglo-Russian Entente = Triple
Entente

Related Events
Congress of Berlin 1878

Met to rewrite Treaty of San Stefano between

Russia & Ottoman Empire
San Stefano had given territory to Russia, land
to Serbia & Montenegro
Bulgaria would increase greatly in size and
become independent
Opposed by Britain & Austria
At Congress, Bulgaria greatly decreased in size
Russia unhappy with lack of German support;
also unhappy with German trade protectionism

Related Events
Boer War 1899-1902

Germany antagonized Britain with the

Kruger Telegram
Britain won the war, but because of
criticisms of other countries realized how
isolated they were
Motivated Britain to look for alliances

Related Events
Russo-Japanese War 1904-05

Russia wanted Port Arthur as a warm water port

Germany supported Russia by providing coal for
Russian fleet; used German navy to help protect
Russian fleet in Baltic/North Sea
Germany wanted alliance with Russia who said
needed to consult French ally first
By Nov. 1904,according to German Ambassador
in London, the British view was Germany is
presented as the true enemy and that Germany
was trying to start an Anglo-Russian conflict

Related Events
Russo-Japanese War 1904-05

Russias defeat showed Britain they did not

need to fear Russia; less concerned about
competition with Russia
Motivated Britain to settle issues with Russia
led to Anglo-Russian Entente & Triple Entente
Relations between Germany & Britain greatly
deteriorated
Germany became diplomatically isolated,
especially after the Moroccan Crises which
followed

Dropping the Pilot

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/
topic-art/66989/14746/Dropping-the-Pilotcartoon-by-Sir-John-Tenniel-commenting-on

Questions

What were Bismarcks goals?

What were the major goals of Willhelm II in
leading the German nation?
How did the dismissal of Bismarck change the
fortunes of Europe?
What became the new line-up of European
nations after the dismissal of Bismarck?
What were obvious strengths and weaknesses of
each grouping of nations?
Why did the new balance bring together such
incompatible partners?