An alliance is the union or leaguing up of people or countries with a
common goal.
This network of alliances was started by Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck
of Germany because he feared the French revenge after their defeat in
the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian war where France lost the provinces of
Alsace and Lorraine.
Bismarck was convinced that France would not carry out the revenge
alone but would seek help from other countries.
Germany therefore decided to isolate France by making agreements with
other countries in Europe hence the alliance system.
THE ALLIANCES
A. The Three Emperors' League (Dreikaiserbund) of 1872
Was signed among Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia.
The aim was to check future attacks on Germany by France.
It involved Kaizer William II (Germany), Alexander II (Russia) and Francis Joseph
(Austria-Hungary).
Bismarck chose Austria-Hungary because she was a close ally to Russia.
Russia was chosen because Germany feared an attack from two super powers
i.e France and Russia.
B. The Dual Alliance
In 1879, Russia pulled out of the Three Emperors; League because she
quarrelled with Austria-Hungary over the control of the Balkan region.
Germany therefore cemented her relationship with Austria-Hungary in fear of
Russian or French attack on either of them.
C. The Triple Alliance (1882)
Its members were Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Italy joined because she had disagreements with France over the French
occupation over Tunis in North Africa.
D. The Reinsurance Treaty
Was signed between Germany and Russia because Germany was convinced
that Russia was a better power than Austria-Hungary.
In 1879, Bismarck felt unsafe as she feared a two-front war thus from Russia
and France.
This treaty guaranteed neutrality of Russia in a war that involved Germany.
E. The Dual Entente/Franco-Russian Entente (1893-94)
In 1890, Bismarck did not renew Germany's alliance with Russia.
This made Russia to be suspicious of Germany so she signed a friendship
with France.
They promised to help each other in any Germany attack on either of them.
F. The Anglo-Japanese Treaty (1902)
In 1900, Britain abandoned her policy of splendid isolation ad started
looking for allies, o In 1902, she made an agreement with Japan because:
she felt threatened by surrounding alliances.
Kaizer sent a telegram to Paul Krugger of South Africa congratulating him for
defeating the British in the Jameson Raid. This angered Britain.
G. Entente Cordiale (Friendly Agreement) of 1904
Comprised Britain, France and Russia.
NB: The alliances in general were made to prevent war but eventually, they
precipitated a climate of war.
By 1907, the world found itself divided into two armed camps i.e Triple Alliance of
the Central Powers comprising Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary on one hand and
the Entente Cordiale of all the allied leaders comprising Britain, France and Russia.
2. ARMS' RACE AND MILITARISM
Countries expanded their military forces e.g. Germany increased her soldiers
from 40,000 to 80,000. These were recruited by conscription (making people
serve in the army by force).
They also competed in the navy e.g. Germany passed a navy law (1898-
1900) to increase her battle ships to 41 and her cruisers to 60.
Britain retaliated by making a more powerful ship, Dreadnought.
The attitude of some military leaders e.g. Count Alfred Von Schlieffen of
Germany who drew the Schlieffen Plan where Germany had to fight France
before the slow advancing Russia also increased the tempo of war.
When France discovered the plan, she became angry and started mobilizing
her troops in readiness for any possible attack from Germany.
EVENTS LEADING TO WORLD WAR I IN 1914
THE FIRST MOROCCAN CRISIS OF 1905
• France and Germany were quarrelling over Morocco.
• The Sultan of Morocco disagreed with the stronger French control.
• Through the Treaty of Madrid at Casablanca in 1880, Germany got annoyed
because:
(a) she was not consulted.
(b) France was taking too much colonial ground in Morocco.
• Germany wanted to test the power of the Entente Cordiale and Dual Entente
so between 1905-1911,.Kaiser William II and Chancellor Von Bullow
provoked quarrels.
st
• On 31 March 1905, Kaizer went to Tangier, Morocco to declare that Morocco
was independent of France.
• As a result in January 1906, a conference was held at Algeciras, Spain. This
consolidated the power of France over Morocco.
RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE
(i) The participants isolated Germany.
(ii) It made Britain and France fear an attack from Germany.
(iii) Britain then promised she would provide 100,000 troops if France was
attacked.
THE SECOND MOROCCAN CRISIS/AGADIR CRISIS (1911)
It started in May and ended in November 1911.
However, in 1908, there was a short one after French Soldiers arrested three
German soldiers who were hiding in the Germany consulate. This was settled
by the International Court of Justice in Hague, Netherlands.
The one of 1911, was caused when French soldiers occupied Fez, the capital
city of Morocco to protect the Sultan who had a rebellion from some of his
subjects.
Germany felt challenged again therefore she demanded compensation in
case of losses,
Kaizer sent a gunboat, Panther to the Moroccan port of Agadir.
Britain mobilized her troops in support of France and threatened that she
would declare war.
RESULTS
Germany gave up and accepted two pieces of land in French-Congo in return for
the two pieces that she lost in Morocco.
Britain declared her unity with France, Russia and Japan and drew the Anglo-
French Convention in 1911 to plan incase war broke out.
NB: These two crises added fuel to the heavy tension that was already existing
in Europe.
3. NATIONALISM IN THE BALKANS
The Balkans were very unstable areas.
They had been ruled by Turkey for many centuries but by the beginning of the
twentieth century, Turkish power was declining.
The new government that was set up was often in disputes.
THE TWO GREAT POWERS
Russia and Austria-Hungary were often quarrelling because they bordered the
Balkan region and wanted to control the area so that it gives them access to the
Mediterranean Sea.
FOCUS OF INTEREST OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN THE BALKANS
1. SERBIA
She was ruled by Slav people who believed in Pan-Slavism i.e a feeling that all
Slavs, especially
those of Austria-Hungary should join Serbia and rule themselves.
o She also
wanted to get Bosnia-Herzegovina so as to have a coastline on the Adriatic Sea.
2. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
She was against Pan-Slavism and instead wanted to see Serbia destroyed and
have all the Slav people under her control.
In 1908, she added Bosnia- Herzegovina to her territory and this angered Serbia
and Russia. Serbia had the support of Germany in the Balkans.
3. RUSSIA
She was the largest Slav state.
Her main ambition in the Balkans was to encourage the breakdown of the Balkan
region into smaller states.
This would allow her to go through the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles into
the Mediterranean sea.
4. GERMANY:
She wanted development in the Balkan region hence supported
Austria-Hungary.
WHY SERBIA HATED AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
Austria-Hungary was refusing Slav people to join Serbia.
In 1908, Austria-Hungary added Herzegovina which Serbia felt belonged to her.
At the Treaty of London, she blocked Serbia from getting Albania which was to
give her (Serbia]
a coastline on the Adriatic sea.
Russia blocked Serbia and Germany blocked Austria-Hungary and this added
to the climate of war.
THE YOUNG TURKS MOVEMENT (THE COMMITTEE OF UNION AND
PROGRESS) OF
1908.
It was formed by young Turks under Envy Bay because they hated their country
being called 'sick man of Europe.'
They wanted to create a strong Turkey and advocate for parliamentary
democracy.
•
In 1908, they deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid and brought the democracy. »
However, in 1912, the young Turks were deposed as well.
Due to tension in the Balkans, four countries decided to come together and fight
Turkey.
These were Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece. They formed the Balkan
League.
THE FIRST BALKAN LEAGUE WAR (1912-13)
Members of the League managed to defeat Turkey within six weeks.
Turkey was driven out of Europe and occupied a small area called Eastern
Thrace.
Countries divided up areas which were previously controlled by Turkey at the
Treaty of London.
However, countries disagreed over the division of Macedonia hence provoking
another war.
THE SECOND BALKAN LEAGUE WAR (1913)
It started because Bulgaria wanted a larger share of Macedonia as she claimed to
have supplied a
large number of troops during the First Balkan League War. o Bulgaria attacked
Serbia when Serbia occupied part of Macedonia, o Romania, Montenegro, Greece
and Turkey helped Serbia. The result was that Bulgaria was
defeated.
A Treaty of Bucharest was signed in 1913 where:
Turkey made some gains.
Serbia and Greece kept what they had gained by the Treaty of London of 1912.
Austria-Hungary wanted Albania to have the Adriatic Coast to keep Serbia
landlocked. Romania got some land on the Black Sea she got from Bulgaria.
TENSION BETWEEN RIVAL ALLIANCES
As a result of the Balkan wars, Serbia and Austria intensified their enemity.
In 1913, Germany promised to support Austria-Hungary in war
Turkey also promised the same due to loss of land in the Balkans.
Serbia allowed terrorist gangs to train on her land before they could attack
Austria-Hungary. One such gang was the Black Hand.
Russia promised to help Serbia against Austria.
MURDER AT SARAJEVO - 28™ JUNE 1914
On this date, Archiduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Emperor Francis
Joseph and his wife Sophia were on an official visit to Sarajevo, the capital city of
Bosnia.
One member of the Black Hand, Gavrillo Princip shot them dead.
REACTION OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
Austria wanted t use the incident as an excuse to destroy Serbia.
Austria sent an ultimatum (final statement of condition to be followed without
discussion) to
Serbia.
This included the following:
Serbia to end anti-Austrian feelings.
Serbia to bring members of the Black Hand to justice.
Ta allow Austrian officials to enter Serbia and crush all terrorist groups.
Serbia
accepted most of the demands but said that others had to be considered in court.
th
Austria found Serbia's reactions unsatisfactory and declared war on Serbia on 28
July 1914.
THE DRIFT TOWARDS WORLD WAR I
On 29th July, Russia started mobilizing her troops to help Serbia.
On 1st August, Germany declared war on Russia.
On 3rd August, Germany declared war on France.
Britain entered the war on 4 August.
On 6th August, Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia.
The war was fought from 1914 to 1918 and the Central Powers (Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy) lost it.
WHY THE CENTRAL POWERS LOST THE WAR
Once the Schlieffen Plan had failed, Germany was at the risk of a two -front war
i.e from France and Russia.
Allied sea power was decisive through the blockade which caused food
shortages to the Central powers.
The Germany sub-marine campaign sunk American merchant ships. This
brought USA into the war.
Entry of USA brought vast and new resources to the Allied powers.
Allied political leaders i.e Lloyd George (Britain) and Georges Clemenceau
(France) were more competent than those of the Central powers.
Best German troops were lost in 1918 and the new ones were young and
inexperienced.
Morale in the German camp was very low because instead of attacking, they
often retreated.
Germany was badly let down by her allies e.g. Austria and Bulgaria wanted to be
helped all the time. Worse still, Turkey surrendered in 1918.