An arrangement

by two

ALLIANCE:

or agreement made

or more countries to work

er to rotect each

is well as to secure

togeth
n interests.

other, 2
mo

CHAPTER 1 | IMPACT OF WORLD WARIINEUROPE 3

In this inqui
powers ono pod Hod that there were many disagreements between the word
tis nquky, ou wl wale of assy ut sheukd be fedora end of

Ine on how th
reconstruct Europe through the Treaty of Versailles. eee een

World War |

hed itself as the world’s most

d Austria-Hungary emerge
d

rt from Europe, the Unite

ig increasingly

s grew as they
below are the

Background fo
By the 19th century, Europe had already establis
powerful continent. Britain, France, Germany an
powerful and were known as the Great Powers. Apa

States of America (USA), Russia and Japan were also becomin

powerful. Tensions and competition between these world power:
competed for colonies and sought to protect their empires. Found
commonly identified reasons for the outbreak of World War I.
olonies
built up empires b
ts of the world, suc

y competing for and

h as Southeast Asia

heir empires WOU

Competition for c

Britain and France, in particular,

controlling colonies in different par'

and Africa. The more colonies they acquired, the larger ¢

be, thereby enhancing their countries’ prestige. Control of the colonies also

allowed the European c to raw materials and resources which

industrialisation. La’ apan also joine

heir own empires.

were important for i

the race for more territories to build up t

t powers sought to
| race thus began as

val race
nce as the grea
d production

Iso rose in importa

one another. Anarms and nava:
h increase

Arms and na
d up its capabilities throug

Military capability a
rotect their empires from
each country sought to buil

of weaponry and ships.

ey would have assistance

es with each other so that th

he main alliances were the Triple Entente (Britain,

le Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary 2m
on both sides, these groups became
ectively (see Figure 1.2 on page 5).

Alliances
so made allianc

The powers al:

in the event of war. By 1914, t
France and Russia) and the Tripl
Italy). As other countries joined the war
known as the Allies and Central Powers resp
Nationalism
Nationalism also played a role in events leading up to
Balkan states, which included territories such as tie i MW igiene
ae been part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire (See Figure 1.2 on page BAB
‘ e ae Empire became less powerful, parts of its empire broke awat
oe | ae and Russia both wanted to control these parts which had
ae a the Balkan states wanted independence. In 1908
eae a y = le Bosnia part of its empire. The Ottoriia Empi
nite the remaining Balkan states together but lost enue
er

them. Serbia gained independence and sought to push Bosnia out of Austria-

Hungary.