Bismarck Forges Early Pacts• Prussia’s chancellor, Otto Von

Bismarck used war to unify Germany

• 1871 he declared Germany as a “satisfied power” and wanted to keep peace in Europe

• Viewed France as a threat, as redemption to the Franco-Prussian War

• Bismarck goal to isolate France

Bismarck’s Plan

• The way to beat France is to make sure France has no allies

• Bismarck forms a duel alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany 1879

• 1881, Russia signs a treaty with Germany pulling another country away from France

• 1882, Italy joins the alliance and the three would be known as the Triple Alliance

Kaiser Wilhelm II• Kaiser Wilhelm II became ruler

of Germany 1888 and forced out Bismarck by 1890

• Wilhelm did not want to share power with others

• Show the strength of Germany• He let the treaty with Russia

expire • Forced Russia to form an

alliance with France

Kaiser Wilhelm II• He pushed for new ship building

to have an equal navy to Britain• Great Britain becomes nervous

and forms alliance or entente with France & Russia (Triple Entente)

• Ensured Britain would not fight against the French or Russians

• Triple Entente vs Triple Alliance

Crisis in the Balkans• Balkans was home to a variety

of ethnic groups• New nations formed with the

decline of the Ottoman Empire• Austria-Hungary was not

happy with these new nations• 1908 Austria-Hungary took

over Bosnia & Herzegovina• Tension with Serbia and

Austria would continue to rise

The Shot heard throughout Europe

• June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife Sophie went to Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)

• Both were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (19 year old Serbian)

• Black Hand (society to rid of Austrian rule)

• Because the assassin was Serbian, Austria Hungary wanted to punish Serbia

War is Declared

• July 23rd, Austria-Hungary gives Serbia an ultimatum

• Serbia agrees to most of the demands but wants the few to be discussed at an international conference

• Austria-Hungary declares war on July 28, 1914• Russia moves troops to the Austrian border• Leaders from around the world urged for

cooler heads, but it was too late