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Period: to
Causes of WWI
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The Dual Alliance is Formed
The alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, formed by Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck was a way to isolate France from gaining allies so that they did not oppose a threat to Germany. The significance of this event is that it shows some minor feud between Germany and France, Nationalism, the belief that people should be loyal to their country, was a part of the dispute. Both countries believed they were superior. -
Creation of the Triple Alliance
Following the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Triple Alliance included Italy. The three countries had a military alliance and would fight on the same side if war were to break out. The significance of this event is that it still shows how Germany is trying to be one of the most powerful nations in Europe, the treaty is a way of stopping France, and any other countires who may oppose Germany, from gaining more power by gaining an ally. -
The Rise of Militarism
Beginning in the 1890s, the great powers of Europe began to increase the strength of their armies. The countries believed that with better armies, they became more powerful. This act is called militarism, when military power is made very important and there is an army always preparing for war. The significance of this is event is that it shows that European countries were prepared to fight. When countries have armies built up, war is bound to break out. -
Rise of Kaiser Wilhelm II and resignation of Bismarck, lapse of treaty with Russia.
The two year ruler of Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II, forced Bismarck to resign. Wilmhelm had been hungry for power and wanted to rule alone, sharing his power with no one. While in power, Kaiser Wilhelm II had let the country's treaty with Russia fall out of concentration, upsetting the Russians. The significance of this event is that it shows the craving for power in Europe, it also gives Germany another adversary in the war (Russia). -
Alliance of Russia and France
Russia's retaliation against Germany's lapse of their treaty resulted in a military alliance with France. The alliance met that Russia is now an enemy to Germany. If Germany had gone to war with either, they would have to fight the other also. The treaty with France was a threat to Germany, if war had broken out, they would be attacked from both their eastern and western borders. -
Conflicts over Morocco
In 1905 and again in 1911, Germany and France nearly fought over who would control Morocco, in Northern Africa. Both the countries were imperialist nations who wanted to expand control. Imperialism is when a nation wants to control another, either politically, economically, or socially. This event shows a dispute rising between Germany and France, as they build up a distrust towards each other. Nationalism, the belief that people should be loyal to their country, was also a part of the dispute. -
Creation of the Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was an alliance formed between Britain, France and Russia. It was a result of the germans strengthening their navy. Britain was not entitled to fight with France and Russia in the war, but they could not fight against them. The significance of this event is showing the number of nations Germany would be up against in war. Because of the two alliances made between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and between Britain, France and Russia, Europe was likely to break out in war. -
Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina
Austria had annexed and taken over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were two large areas in the Balkans containing a large Slavic population. The annexation had upset Serbians planning to rule the area who then vowed to take back the land. Austria-Hungary was prepared to crush any Serbian attacks. Due to the invasion, Austria-Hungary had lost a possible ally, Serbia, because they had taken their land. -
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
In Sarajevo, Bosnia, while riding through the streets in an open-top car, the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were shot by 19 year-old Gavrilo Princip. Gavrilo was a Serbian member of the Black Hand, which was a group formed to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule. The assassination had led to an ultimatum from Austria to Serbia. The ultimatum was a set of demands that would result in consequences if not met. Serbia wanted to negotiate the demands, but Austria had already been preparing for war -
Austria Declares War on Serbia
Resulting from the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, Austria had been outraged when Serbia wanted to negotiate their demands. Instead of settling the matter, Austria declared war on Serbia and set off a large chain reaction of other declarations of war. The declaration of war forced Russia to send in troops because of their alliance with Serbia. Russia then set up troops on the german borders, upsetting Germany. -
Germany declares war on Russia and then France two days later
When Russia had sent troops to the borders of Germany, Germany had taken it as an act of violence and declared war on Russia. Two days later, Germany also declared war on France because of their alliance with Russia. This event is significant because it had finally taken the disputes between Germany and France and turned it into war. These two countries had been some of the most powerful nations in Europe, so the war would soon gain much magnitude. -
Britain Declares War on Germany
The final declaration of war was Britain's declaration of war on Germany. This had resulted from Germany going to war with France and Russia. Soon after the wars, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire had joined Germany and Austria-Hungary, while Britain, France and Russia were joined by Japan and Italy who had abandoned their alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary because they thought they had wrongly started the war. This event was significant because it sprung almost all of Europe into war.
