Colonial Conflicts & the Alliance System before World War One
...iam II visited Morocco. There he stated that Morocco was an independent state, and everyone, including the French, was equal in Morocco. This angered the French. • In 1911, there were local conflicts in Morocco. Germany sent a gunboat to help. This also angered the French. Ideas Appeared at that Period 1. SOCIAL DARWINISM • Thought that the stronger nations / people should use wars to finish weak nations / people. They thought they were helping the world to eliminate the weak. 2. MILITARISM • Thought that wars are glorious. • Loved weapons. • Loved expanding and conquering. Arm Race £»Arm race of infantry is keenest between France & Germany. £»Britain was the king of the sea at first. It started building dreadnoughts in 1906. Germany challenged them and copied the dreadnoughts. The Formation of the Alliance System £»BISMARCK (Ger.) – “Iron Chancellor - Worried that they would get revenge from France. - From 1871, he wanted to isolate war. £»DREIKAISERBUND (3 Emperors’ League) – 1873 Ger. Rus. Aus. - If anyone was attacked by 2 or more other countries, others would help. - Soon after that, Russia and Austria-Hungary started quarrelling because they had conflicts of interests over the Balkan States. The Balkan States were under control of the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th century the Empire started weakening. Both Russia and Austria-Hungary wanted to take advantage. Russia had no warm ports that wasn’t frozen in the cold winter, so that they wanted to control the ports in the Balkan States. £»DUAL ALLIANCE – 1879 Ger. Aus. - Russia and Austria-Hungary hated each other because of the above reasons. - Germany chose Austria-Hungary. Germany kept the alliance secret. £»TRIPLE ALLIANCE – 1882 Ger. Aus. Italy - Italy joined the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. £»REINSURANCE TREATY – 1887 Ger. Rus. - Between Germany and Russia. £»FRANCO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE – 1894 Fra. Rus. - In 1888, Kaiser William II came to throne in Germany. - Kaiser didn’t like Bismarck because he was bossy. - In 1890, Kaiser William II ordered Bismarck to resign. He dumped the alliance with Russia. - ...