Origins of the First World War part 1.1

Origins of the First World War part 1.1

1. Alliances

   • The Triple Alliance
     • Duel Alliance of 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary
       • To strengthen Germany against France and Russia
     • Italy joined in 1882 to form the Triple Alliance
       • A defensive alliance
       • all three agreed to support each other if one was attacked
   • The Triple Entente
     • Franco-Russian Alliance
       • 1894
       • Both France and Russia felt isolated from Europe
     • Entente Cordiale
       • 1904
       • Britain felt isolated in Europe
       • Britain allowed France to take action in Morocco and France allowed Britain to make reforms in Egypt
       • The Kaiser became suspicious
     • Anglo-Russian Entente
       • 1907
       • Influenced by France
       • Both countries were keen to settle areas of difference in the middle east and far east

2. The Moroccan Crises

   • The First Crisis 1905-06
     • In 1905 the Kaiser made a speech in Tangiers declaring that Morocco should stay independent of France
       • Supported by Britain, France refused to back down but agreed to a international conference discussing the future of Morocco
         • The conference held in 1906 was a disaster for the Kaiser who had only the support of Austria-Hungary while France had the full support of Britain
           • France was given a free hand in Morocco
           • The Kaiser's attempts to break up the Entente Cordiale had backfired and had strengthened the alliance even further
           • The Kaiser blamed the British for his humiliation which intensified Anglo-German rivalry
   • The second Crisis 1911
     • In 1911 the Kaiser sent a gunboat called the Panther to the Moroccan port of Agadir to try and force France to agree to compensation
       • Lloyd George, the British Chancellor made a speech directly warning the Germans that Britain would fully support France even if it meant war.
         • Germany backed down so they wouldn't risk war
           • The crisis greatly increased tension in Europe
             • It strengthened Anglo-French relations further
             • The Kaiser suffered another humiliating defeat
             • It increased Anglo-German rivalry
       • France and Britain both thought the Kaiser was trying to set up a German naval base in Morocco

3. The Bosnian Crisis 1908-09

   • In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia
     • The Serbians were furious because they had hoped to make Bosnia part of Serbia
       • They appealed to Russia for help whose answer was to call for an international conference
         • A-H refused to attend the conference and was backed by Germany so Russia had little choice but to back down
           • Serbia wanted revenge and the return of Bosnia
           • Russia was humiliated and was now unlikely to back down in another crisis
           • Germany was now fully committed to supporting Austro-Hungarian policy in the Balkans

4. The Arms Race

   • Military
     • Every major power in Europe had introduced conscription which led to huge armies
     • The armies could be mobilised at a moments notice
     • it increased tension because as one power increased its army, another would follow suit
     • it made war more likely because each country became more confident of success and more willing to test its armed forces
   • Naval
     • Naval competition between Britain and Germany in the years 1900-14
     • Britain launched the dreadnought in 1906 which was faster, bigger and had a bigger firing range than any existing battleship
       • it made all previous battleships obsolete
       • A race developed to see who could build the most and in 1909 Britain had 8 and Germany had 7