Long-term Causes of WWIIB History of the America’s Year 2Quarter 1 Causes, Practices, and Effects of War

Vocab/Basic Information• Kaiser Wilhelm I – 1st ruler of Germany• Otto Von Bismarck – Chancellor• Alliances – joining of 2 or more powers• Front – lines where fighting is taking place• Blockade – preventing goods entering or exiting• Indemnity – money or goods that is received as compensation

for damage or loss• Kaiser Wilhelm II – 2nd ruler of Germany, took over 1888• Leo von Caprivi – Chancellor took over for Bismarck in 1890• Imperialism – Empire building; Gaining of colonial power• Entente – French word meaning Understanding

What was happening• Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) – Prussia defeated France• 39 separate Germanic states – largest were Austria & Prussia• Objective was to make a larger Germanic state• Prussia beats Austria and then France• Prussia humiliates French army• Uses railroad (new technology) to move resources • France lost Territory (Alsace-Lorraine), had to pay indemnity,

occupied France until paid • German unification, new power in Europe• France’s position was undetermined• New war strategies – modern warfare, move fast, well trained,

leaders must be knowledgeable

Bismarck’s Alliances

• The Dreikaiserbund or Three Emperors’ League (1873)Germany, Russia, Austria-HungryTerms were vague but kept France isolated• The Dual Alliance (1879)Dreikaiserbund fell apart when Austria-Hungry got into a

conflict with Russia in the BalkansBismarck made an agreement to work with Austria-

Hungry if Russia wanted to wage warBoth countries agreed to remain neutral if other

European countries attacked one or the other

Bismarck’s Alliances Continued• The Three Emperors’ Alliance (1881)Russia felt isolated and struck up revised version of

Drieskaiserbund – this offered Bismarck added securityTerms offered Russia, Germany or Austria if at war with other

countries would remain neutral• The Triple Alliance (1882)Between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy If any were attacked by 2 or more countries, the alliance would

lend assistance• The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)Three Emperors’ Alliance fell apart due to Balkan problems in 1885Separate treaty was written to avoid risk of war on two frontsBismarck had to make sure Germany stayed friendly with Russia

Questions: from reading pg. 14-181. Explain the new Course.2. Explain Weltpolitik.3. Explain how Imperialism helped fuel tension. 4. Explain the emergence of the alliance system. What is its

importance?5. What was the key piece that caused the naval race to take

place?6. Explain each countries connection to the Balkans.

Answers

1. Wilhelm II & Caprivi overturned Bismarck’s careful orchestration of alliances, allowed treaties to lapse, political clause in alliances agreeing to support in imperial disputes, clause was anti-British and freed France from isolation

2. Policy they hoped would make Germany a colonial power with an overseas empire and navy; hopefully diverting the German people from its social and political problems

3. Countries wanted to claim land initially for economic reasons and then for the belief of Western Civilization was dominant; Germany wanted its influence felt outside Europe like Britain

Answers Continued

4. It became a type of Chess match; strategic placement just in case of war – it cause Germany to feel encircled because of the “Triple Entente” (Russia, France, Britain); Europe was divided into 2 alliances – Triple Entente & Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungry, Italy)

5. The HMS Dreadnought – super-battleship Britain created; made all other battleships obsolete so essentially both sides started the race back at zero

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6. 3 countriesTurkey – had once controlled all; lost Serbs, Greeks and Bulgars; struggle to hold onto remaining territories

Austria-Hungry – by 1900 were losing grip on multi-ethnic empire; Southern Slavs (Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) pushed for independence and looked to support from Serbia (look at as threat to Austria-Hung.)

Russia – Sympathized with Slavs; wanted straits of Constantinople for shipping (warm water ports); wanted to capitalize on Turkey’s declining power