Events that led to world war I

Otto von Bismarck unified Germany

Period: Oct 22, 1864 to Oct 22, 1871

Between 1864 and 1871, Prussias´s blood-and-iron chancellor.

The Dual Alliance was created

Oct 7, 1879

Bismarck first goal,was to isolate France because he believed that France still wanted revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. For making this possible he formed the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary.

A treaty with Russia

Oct 22, 1881

Bismarck took yet another possible ally away from France by making a treaty with Russia.

Triple Alliance

Oct 22, 1882

Italy joined the two countries,Germany and Austria-Hungary. forming the triple alliance.

Germany´s foreign policy changed dramatically

Oct 23, 1890

Kaiser Wilhelm II, forced Bismarck to resign

Treaty with Russia ended

Oct 23, 1890

In addition to Kaiser Wilhelm many changes in Germany, he also let his nation's treaty with Russia lapse under Wilhelm control.

Allience between Russia and France

Period: Oct 23, 1892 to Oct 23, 1894

Russia formed a defensive military alliance with France between the years 1892-1894. This allience had been Bismarck’s fear. Due to Russia and France's new treaty, Germany would now be forced in fighting a two-front war,or a war on both its eastern and western borders.

Allience with france

Oct 28, 1904

Alarmed, Great Britain began to enlarge its own fleet. In 1904, Britain formed an entente, or alliance, with France

Triple Entente was formed

Oct 23, 1907

Britain made another entente, this time with both France and Russia. The Triple Entente did not bind Britain to fight with France and Russia but it promised that Britain would definitely not fight against them.

Rival Camps in Europe

Oct 28, 1907

There were two rival camps in Europe: one was the Triple Alliance formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, and the other which was the Triple Entete conformed by Great Britain, France and Russia.

Austria took over, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Oct 28, 1908

Austria took control over the other Balkan area with large Slavic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but, Serbian leaders, who had sought to rule these provinces, were outraged and and vowed to take the lands away from the Austrian control,

Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie are killed

Jun 28, 1914

visiting Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir of the Austria-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie were shot by a 19-year-old Serbian member of the Black Hand,a secret society committed to ridding Bosnia of Austrian rule.

Austria present an ultimatum to Serbia

Jul 23, 1914

Austria-hungary as punishment present an ultimatum to serbia, containing demands,

large standing armies

Oct 23, 1914

All the Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies. Also military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize, or organize and move troops in case of a war.