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Otto von Bismarck creates the Triple Alliance
Otto van Bismarck created the Triple Alliance (Triple Alliance: Originally a Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, the triple alliance was formed when Italy joined their ranks)
three years after the creation of the Dual Alliance. The goal of the Triple Alliance was to isolate France for military reasons. By creating the Triple Alliance, Bismarck effecively left France without allies to use in a time of war, leaving them powerless. This decided the outcome of the war. -
Rise of Kaiser Wilhelm II
Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes ruler of Germany. Eager to assert Germany's power, Wilhelm began focusing on Germany's army and navy. In 1890, Wilhelm II let Germany's treaty with Russia lapse, sending Russia into an alliance with France, and subsequently Great Britain. Wilhelm helped ignite the war with many of his thoughtless actions, and was a key player in why World War I was started -
Alliance between Russia and France
In 1890, Kaiser Wilhelm let the alliance between Germany and Russia lapse. To counter this, Russia and France signed a defensive alliance two years later in 1892, and again in 1894. This is important because the alliance between France and Russia would eventually lead to the Triple Entente (Triple Entente: the alliance between England, France, and Russia during the war) -
Remaining Vocab Definitions
Militarism: The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war. Helped start World War I.
Nationalism: a deep devotion to one’s nation. Nationalism can serve as a unifying force within a country. However, it also can cause intense competition among nations, with each seeking to overpower the other
Central Powers:
Allied Powers: -
Period: to
European Arms Race
As the Ottomon Empire continued it's slow decline, many small groups began breaking off from their Turkish rulers. Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia were all formed this way. Tensions grew as Nationalism ran rampant among them. -
Creation of the Triple Entent
Alarmed at Germany's war efforts, England formed an alliance, or entente, with France. In 1907, England formed another entente with Russia, forming the Triple Entente. This -
Austria Annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, two areas with large slavic populations. Serbians were outraged, as they sought to rule over these areas as well. This led to increased tensions between Austria and Serbia, and eventually to war. -
Austria Declares war on Serbia (official start to World War I)
In response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. A complicated system of alliances eventually brings nearly all of Europe into this war, and begins World War I. -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
On a trip to Sarjevo, the capital of Bosnia, the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophie, were killed. This event ignited World War I -
England declares war on Germany.
On August 4th, 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany. The reason being that Germany's war plan included invading France through Belgium. England guranteed Belgium it's neutrality, and was required to defend it. -
Battle Lines are drawn
By mid August 1914, battle lines for the looming war were clearly drawn. On one side was Austri-Hungary, Germany, Bulgria, and the Ottoman Empire. These were the Central Powers. The Allied powers consisted of England, France, Russia, Italy, and eventually Japan. These lines decided the outcome of the war, and were very important.
