Did alliances cause WWI? C/B aim – to explain what alliances there were and how they contributed to WWI

B/A aim – to explain the alliances and how the accelerated and deterred war. To reach an overall judgement.

Why do countries make alliances?

Are we in any alliances?

Which alliance does this refer to?

What does the cartoon suggest about that alliance?

Fill in the gaps in the table using pp. 50-53 and p.57, 59Event Description Which countries felt

stronger and why Which countries felt weaker and why

What impacts could this have?

Three Emperors alliance 1881

Triple Alliance 1882

Reinsurance Treaty 1887

1887 Mediterranean Agreements

1889 Britain’s contemplation

March 1890 Reinsurance Treaty lapsed

1894 Franco-Russian Alliance

1896 cooling of Anglo-German relations

1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance

1904 Anglo-French Agreement

1907 Triple Entente signed

Event Description

Three Emperors alliance 1881 A-H, Germany, Russia

Triple Alliance 1882 A-H, Germany, Italy

Reinsurance Treaty 1887 Russia and Germany,

1887 Mediterranean Agreements Britain signed with A-H, Italy and Russia

1889 Britain’s contemplation Thought to join with Germany

March 1890 Reinsurance Treaty lapsed lapsed by 1890 as wanted to keep A-H, didn’t think Russia and France would join

1894 Franco-Russian Alliance ‘nightmare of coalitions’

1896-1898 changing Anglo-German relations Declined with Boer war, also distancing from France and russia, tried to end ‘splendid isolation’ by getting in to an alliance with Germany – led by Chamberlain

1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance Against Russia, only about Pacific Area

1904 Anglo-French Agreement Entente Cordiale, mainly to settle colonial differences

1907 Triple Entente signed Russia signs agreement with Britain, forming the Triple Entente, mainly to settle fundamental differences over Tibet, Persia and Afghanistan

Were Germany’s fears of isolation justified?

• Essay feedback – file them and fill in log sheets

• Elites

• Hamid and Roua – structure it with improving democracy/not improving democracy

• Everybody else – carry on with the thematic structure

• How did the alliances affect European relations by 1914?

– Guled – Russia became increasingly anti-German (three emperors to lapsing reinsurance treaty to joined triple entente) which meant Russia and Germany were likely to be more aggressive

– Britain was becoming increasingly involved (not involved in three emperors or triple alliance, to Mediterranean agreement to Triple Entente) which was making Germany increasingly isolated

– Opposing blocks were forming (triple alliance, to Anglo-French, to Triple Entente) – Anglo-German relations changed from allies to rivals, blocks began to form around the two. (From

attempted Anglo-German treaty, to attempted Chamberlain treaty to triple entente)

• If you assume the elites became more powerful during Wilhemine Germany, such as in the Zabern affair, does this mean that democracy increased?

How did the alliances affect these countries from 1881 to 1914? How would these countries approach their foreign policy from 1881 to

1914?

• Britain• France• Germany• Russia • Japan

• What was the position of Germany in 1890? – Good terms with Britain, Russia, Austria and Italy

• What was the position of Germany by 1914? – Bad terms with Britain, Russia and Italy

Fritz FischerGermany held the most responsibility as they had an unquestionable desire to achieve German dominance in Europe

Fritz FischerGermany held the most responsibility as they had an unquestionable desire to achieve German dominance in Europe

WehlerDomestic issues (such as growth of Social Democrats and Zabern affair) forced Prusso-German elites to pursue war as a means of deflecting public opinions – to so called ‘escape forwards’ theory.

WehlerDomestic issues (such as growth of Social Democrats and Zabern affair) forced Prusso-German elites to pursue war as a means of deflecting public opinions – to so called ‘escape forwards’ theory.

StrurmerIt was an offensively conducted defensive war based on exposed geosrategic position of Germany

StrurmerIt was an offensively conducted defensive war based on exposed geosrategic position of Germany

Pogge von StrandmannIt was a calculated war that Germany believed it could win in order to strengthen Germany’s domestic and diplomatic situation

Pogge von StrandmannIt was a calculated war that Germany believed it could win in order to strengthen Germany’s domestic and diplomatic situation

Critics of Fischer’s ThesisHistorians have criticised Fischer’s thesis and place blame with the Austro-Hungarians, Russians, the general defensive climate in Europe, imperialism, the ‘Eastern Question’, and the arms race.

Critics of Fischer’s ThesisHistorians have criticised Fischer’s thesis and place blame with the Austro-Hungarians, Russians, the general defensive climate in Europe, imperialism, the ‘Eastern Question’, and the arms race.

Divide your A3 sheet into 5 and write headings of these 5 theories.Summarise what they are and add any supporting knowledge you can.

In 1906, Britain launched the first Dreadnaught, the

most modern ship of its time. It was

quicker and carried bigger guns than

other ships.

The Germans knew that they might one

day have to fight both France and

Russia, so in 1905 they drew up a plan to avoid this – the Schlieffen Plan.

This was that Germany would

invade France via Belgium (a neutral

country) and quickly gain control. Then its army would turn and fight Russia.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was made up of many countries.

The different nationalities within the empire wanted

independence. However, the

Emperor wanted to keep all of his

empire.

In 1882, Germany Italy and Austria-

Hungary formed the Triple Alliance.

They promised to help each other if

attacked.

Britain promised to protect Belgium if it

was attacked by Germany.

Germany was jealous of Britain’s

empire. The Kaiser (Emperor) wanted an empire as well.

In 1907, Germany was proud of its navy. Germany

wanted it to be as good if not better than, Britain’s. So the Nassau Class

was built to compete with the British Dreadnought.

Russia wanted to take land from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so they were enemies.

In 1907, France, Russia and Britain formed an alliance

called the Triple Entente, which said

they would help each other if

attacked.

Serbia wanted all the Slav people in

the Austro-Hungarian Empire to

be free and independent. Many Russians were also

Slavs, so Russia promised to help Serbia against

Austria-Hungary.

Add this too.

Add any information about the alliances.

• C/B – summarise each interpretation and number them from strongest to weakest interpretation

• B/A – which interpretation do you believe is most accurate? Give knowledge in your answer and explain why one is weaker

Homework – due Thursday 23rd October

1. Does this historian think that alliances were an important cause of WWI?2. Why do they or don’t they think alliances were an important cause of WWI?3. Annotate the source with own knowledge to support their statements. 4. Annotate the source with own knowledge to challenge their statements.

Friedrich Kiessling, An Improbable War?, 2012.

+ fill in your 5 section A3 sheet with evidence from alliances

and general facts sheet

Reminder – Documentary viewing on Wednesday period

6.