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Creation of the Dual Alliance
Otto von Bismarck unified Germany from 1864-1871. Bismarck created the dual alliance between Germany and Austria. He wanted to isolate France because he believed France was Germany's biggest threat. He tried to take away all of France's possible allies by becoming allies with them. This even was significant because it was an example of nationalism, having pride in your country and willing to defend it because Bismarck had a lot of pride in Germany and was willing to defend it from France. -
Creation of the Triple Alliance
In 1882 Italy joined the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria- Hungary which formed the Triple Alliance. An alliance system is agreements or promises to defend and help another country. This even is significant because Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary were all in an alliance particularly against France. Since France had all of those countries against it, it was clear that France wanted to make allies of their own which caused future conflict. -
Change in Leaders
In 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II the ruler of Germany forced Bismarck to resign because he wanted all of the power to himself. Previously in 1881 Bismarck had made a treaty with Russia to take away another alliance from France, but in 1890 Wilhelm let the treaty with Russia lapse. This event is significant because then the treaty with Russia wasn't in place, Russia formed an alliance with France in 1892 and 1894 which is exactly what Bismarck was trying to prevent. -
Alliance of France and Russia
In 1892 and 1894 Russia formed a defensive military alliance with France as a reaction to the lapse of the treaty with Germany. This was the fear of Basmarck because Russia and France were such large forces that going to war with either of them would've make Germany their enemy. This event is important because this was the beginning of the general split between the two sides of the war. Russia had an alliance with France and they were against Germany, Austria- Hungary and Italy. -
Conflicts over Morocco
In 1905 and again in 1911, Germany and France nearly fought over who would control Morocco, in Northern Afrcia. Most of Europe supported France, so Germany backed down. This even is significant because it is an example of how imperialism, extending a country's power and influence, led to World War I because countries were taking over weaker countries to expand which was causing competition and conlict between European countries. -
Creation of the Triple Entente con't
Britian would fight with Russia and France, but it ensured that they wouldn't fight against each other. This event was significant because there was an alliance formed against Germany. At that time Great Britian, France and Russia had an alliance primarily against Germany and Germany's allies, Italy and Austria- Hungary. -
Creation of the Triple Entente
Wilhelm began a large shipbuilding program so that Germany could have a navy equal to the British navy fleet which was superior. When Great Britian realized that was what Wilhelm was trying to do they formed an entente (alliance) with France (Germany's known enemy.) That first alliance Great Britian made let to the next entente they made with both France and Russia. The alliance between these three countries (Britian France and Russia) became known as the Triple Entente. It did not ensure that -
Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina con't
This event is important because it shows how nationalism played a big part throughout the Balkan Peninsula with the Serbs. Serbia wanted to keep all of the Serbs together, but Austria- Hungary wanted to have some power as well. This put tension between Austria- Hungary and Serbia. -
Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovia
In 1908 Austria annexed (took over) Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since those were two Balkan areas with a large Slavic population, the Serbian leaders weren't happy about that. Serbia was trying to get all of the Serbs into Serbia, but since Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina there became tension between Serbia and Austria. The Serbs vowed to take Bosnia and Herzegovina away from Austria and Austria- Hungary vowed to destroy any Serbian effort to damage its authority in the Balkans. -
Rise of Militarism
By 1914 every nation in Europe had militarism. Militarism is the building up of armed forces, getting ready for war. A lot of nations in Europe believed that to be the best they needed to have a powerful military with an army prepared for war. This is significant because militarism was one of the main indirect causes of World War I. Having a strong military made citizens feel patriotic, yet it also scared people because the army was preparing for war which would be dangerous for the country. -
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie went to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. The person who successfully shot and killed both the Archduke and his wife was Gavrilo Principe, a 19- year old Serbian who was part of the Black Hand society committed to getting Bosnia out of Austrian rule. This event was significant because it was the spark of World War I and it was the event that led to all of the declarations of war. -
World War I begins
On July 28th, 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia which marks the first day of World War I. Because the assassin was a Serbian, Austria used the murders as a way to get Serbia to do things that they wanted. Serbia agreed to some of the demands, but Austria didn't want to negotiate, so they declared war. This event is significant because Russia (an ally with Serbia) took action against Austria. Leaders all over Europe saw what was happening and the war was inevitable. -
Germany declares war on Russia and then France
Russia, Serbia's ally began moving its Army towards the Russian-Austrian border after Austria's declaration of war. Russia assumed that Germany was going to join Austria, so the Russians also organized troops on Germany's border, so on August 1st 1914 Germany declared war on Russia. Two days after that Germany decleared war on France after Russia went to France for help. This event is significant because it was the beginning of the war and war was beginning to break out all over Europe. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Soon after Germany declared war on France, Great Britian was there for France and declared war on Germany. This was on August 4th, 1914 and at this point Europe was stuck in war. This event is important because it's an example of how France and Great Britian were allies for each other when Britian declared war on Germany after Germany had declared war on France. Also Europe was split and the wars were in place and beginning at that time.
