World War One: The Road to War 1870-1914

Bismarck becomes Chancellor of

German states in 1867 - has two
goals:

1.  Unify all of Germany under one

head of state

2.  Prevent Germany from having

to fight France and Russia at
the same time
German Chancellor

Otto Von Bismarck

German States before Unification 1870
 Germany defeats France
Imperial Germany After 1871 in Franco-Prussian War
1871 – outcome?

1.  German states unite to form

Imperial Germany under the
Kaiser (Emperor)

2. France must give up

Alsace-Lorraine territory
(the two Sisters)
Alsace-Lorraine (the Sisters)

•  France
determined to
get this territory
back
•  Major issue
with Germany
1871-1914, and
key factor in
pushing France
toward war.
 Discussion Question
•  How did the acquisition of the Alsace
Lorraine territories influence the feelings of
the French toward the Germans? What
was its impact on WWI?
 Wilhelm II becomes
Kaiser (Emperor) of
all Germany 1888

1. Nervous, aggressive, and

strong willed personality

2. Grows tired of Bismarck’s

political advice to keep
peace, retires him in 1890

3. He is not a good leader for

Germany during period
leading up to the war
 The Three Ruling Cousins in 1914
Look Like Twins?

Germany Britain Russia

Wilhelm II and his
crippled left arm.
 Discussion Question
•  Think back to yesterday, how were the
rulers of Britain, Germany, and Russia
related? What do you think it would be
like to wage war on your family?

•  What was the name of the territory that

Germany and France fought over for
centuries?
1890 Bismarck forced to
retire: outcome?
1.  Wilhelm II now makes
own decisions
2.  Wants Germany to have
a “Place in the Sun”
3.  Promotes a more
aggressive foreign policy
4.  Begins German military
build up: (Wants navy to
compete with Brits)
Triple Alliance 1882

1.  Put together by

Bismarck

2.  Defensive in nature

3.  Designed to balance

the power of Russia
and France

4.  Members: Germany,

Austria Hungary, Italy
The Franco-Russian Alliance 1894

1.  France and Russia form

alliance to counter Germany’s
growing power and aggression

2.  This threatens Germany with

war on east and west borders

3.  Germany secretly creates Von

Schlieffen Plan for worst case:
fighting Russia and France at
the same time.
Germany’s Von Schlieffen Plan

•  Problem:
Germany
doesn’t have
enough troops
to fight Russia
& France at the
same time.

•  Goal: Quickly
knock France
out of war, then
go fight Russia.
 Discussion Question
•  Do you think the von Schlieffen plan was a
good plan? Why or why not?

•  If you were in charge of the country, and

facing a war on both sides, what would
you do?
Naval Arms Race Between Britain and
Germany 1898-1906
Britain’s new super-weapon:
Dreadnought battleship 1901
•  Dreadnought- new
warship has powerful
weapons and new
engine technology
•  Brits hope to keep
ahead of Germans in
naval arms race
•  Policy fails, Germany
also builds new ships
•  This escalates tension
between Brits and
Germany
Japan defeats Russia in the
east 1904-1905: Outcome?

1.  Russia humiliated, fears

looking weak
2.  They become more
aggressive in Balkans vs
Austrians
3.  Russian people begin to lose
faith in government
Triple Entente (Br-Fr-Rus) Formed 1907

1.  Britain, France and

Russia agree on
military support

2.  But Britain does not

have to mobilize if
other partners
threatened

3.  Triple Entente now

balances out power of
Triple Alliance
The Alliance Systems by 1907
 Discussion Question
•  Think back to last week. What are the
things we covered in the lecture?
–  Give at least 3 examples.
•  Hint: Who made up what alliances?
•  Hint: Who were the major people we discussed?
•  Hint: What areas where we talking about?
Bosnian Crisis 1909

Bosnian Crisis 1909 – Austria

takes control of Bosnia

•  Makes Russia upset, threatens

A.H. to withdraw

•  Germany backs A.H. against

Russia, Russia forced to back
down, vow they wont next time
Balkan Wars 1913
Balkan Wars 1913 –
With Russian support Serbia
leads war to gain territory
from Turkey

•  A.H. upset at Serbia, threatens to

invade but Russia says “No” or war!

•  Germany tells A.H. to back down,

Austrians feel humiliated, want
revenge on Serbia and Russia
 Archduke Franz Ferdinand
•  Archduke of Austria
–  Heir to the Austrian
throne

•  Killed by Gavrilo
Princip a Serbian
nationalist on June
28, 1914.
Assassination of Franz
Ferdinand June 1914 sets
off a chain of events:
•  Austria blames Serbia
•  July- A.H. delivers ultimatum
that Serbs refuse
•  A.H. then declares war on
Serbia with German support
•  Russians mobilize army to
support Serbia
•  Germany tells Russians to back
down, but Russia refuses
•  Germans mobilize armies and
prepare to invade Belgium and
France
•  France mobilizes armies and
asks for British support
 Britain

France

Germany

Russia

Austria

Serbia
The “Domino Effect” July of 1914
 Discussion Question
•  What was the importance of Franz
Ferdinand’s assassination? Why was it
the “spark” that ignited the war?
World War One Begins August 1914