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Creation of the Dual Alliance
Otto von Bismark was afraid that France would be a threat to Germany's peace. "As long as it is without allies, France poses no danger to us." Bismark formed the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary in order to take away a possible ally of France. This event is important because it was the start of the Triple Alliance, the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The Triple Alliance would soon have a major role in World War I. -
Creation of the Triple Alliance
The Triple Alliance was an alliance system, agreements or promises to defend and help another country, with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. It was officially formed when Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Triple Alliance is important because it was one of the two major particpant in World War I. -
Rise of Kaiser Wilhelm II and resignation of Bismarck, lapse of treaty with Russia
In 1890, Kaiser Wilhelm II forced Bismarck to resign because he did not want to share his power with anyone. Wilhelm's greatest pride was his army, and he wanted to show how strong Germany was. He let their treaty with Russia lapse, so Russia formed a military alliance with France. This is important because it was the event that inflicted the Triple Entente, alliance between Russia, France, and Great Britain, to start forming. The Triple Entente was the other major participant in World War I. -
Alliance of Russia and France
The alliance created between Russia and France was Russia's response to the lapse of their treaty with Germany. This was Bismarck's biggest fear because if they fought with either country, they'd have to fight with the other on both their eastern and western borders. This is important because it secured the alliance between Russia and France, in which later on they would add Great Britain to form the Triple Entente. -
Conflicts between Germany and France over Morocco
In 1905 and again in 1911, Germany and France nearly fought over who would control Morocco, in Northern Africa. Most of Europe supported France, so Germany backed down. This event is significant because it shows how imperialism, expanding an empire by taking over weaker countries, led to intense competition and conflict between European countries. -
Creation of the Triple Entente
Wilhelm II started building a stronger navy, and Britain was worried, so they made an alliance with France. Eventually in 1907, Britain made another alliance with both France and Russia. This did not force each country to fight with each other, but guaranteed that they wouldn't fight against each other. This is important because it finalized the two rivalry groups in Europe. The Triple Alliance on one side, and the Triple Entente on the other. -
Austria annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina were areas with a very large Slavic population. Nationalism, have pride in your country, was a strong force in Serbia and Austria-Hungary that made them want to extend their country's borders. Serbia had been wanting to rule over those areas, and the annexing created a lot of tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. This is important because iit created a lost of tension between the two countries. This rivalry causes the first declaration of war later on. -
Rise of Militarism
Militarism, building up armed forces to get ready for war, began to rise when European nations started to believe that in oder to be sucessful, they had to have a strong army. Militarism is important because it led to the creation of very strong armies that created a lot of destruction when fighting each other in World War I. -
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were driving through Sarajevo in an open roofed car. As they were driving, and the driver went the wrong way, Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, shot both of them. This event is important because this was the inciting incident for the first declaration of war, since the assassin was Serbian. -
Austria declares war on Serbia
On July 23, Austria gave Serbia an ultimatum, and Serbia knowing that refusing their demands would start a war, agreed to most of them. However, Serbia wanted to negotiate on some of the demands, but Austria rejected, and declared war. This is important because it is the first declaration of war, and this started a domino effect which created more declarations of war. -
Germany declares war on Russia and then France
Russia started moving their armies towards Austria, and Germany as well, expecting they would join the war. Germany saw this is a declaration of war, so on August 1, the German government officially declared war on Russia. Russia seeked France for help, but Germany did not wait for them to have a reaction. Two days later (August 3), Germany declared war on France. This event is important because they are the declarations of war, and if no war was declared, then there would be no World War I. -
Britain declares was on Germany
A day after Germany had declared war on France, Great Britain declared war on Germany. This is important because it is the last declaration of war, but the very beginning of World War I.
