unit 6 topic 1 notes - german empire and alliances

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10.5 and 10.6 : Students analyze the causes, effects and course of the First World War.

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Empire and Alliances

Chapter 25

Pages 838-843

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Topics

I. Imperialism

II. German Empire and Alliance System

III. Forging the Triple Entente

IV. Nationalism

V. Militarism

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I. Imperialism

• European nations had been gaining colonies throughout the 19th century.

• France and Britain had gained most of the colonies around the world and had become major powers.

• Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy needed colonies to be great powers.

• All colonies were claimed by 1913.

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II. German Empire and Alliance System

A. The Role of Bismarck

B. War in Balkans

C. Congress of Berlin

D. Alliance with Russia and Austria

E. The Triple Alliance

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A. The Role of Bismarck

• P.M. Bismarck wanted to unite all 39 German states– Prussia would lead– Austria would be out

• 7 weeks war-Prussia defeats Austria

• Franco-Prussian War– Gains Alsace Lorraine.– Humiliates France

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B. War in the Balkans

• Bismarck wants to isolate France and protect the “New” Germany

• 1873 formed Three Emperors League– Germany, Austria and Russia cooperation

• Conflict in Balkans weakens league– Ottoman Empire in decline– Austria and Russia want the Balkans

• Treaty of San Stefano 1878- Russia makes strong gains– Alarms other powers

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C. Congress of Berlin: 1878

• Bismarck Presides as “honest broker”– Bismarck wants to prevent war between Allies– Bulgaria reduced in size– Russia loses some gains– Austria-Hungary gets Bosnia-Herzegovina– Britain gets Cyprus

• Russia unhappy• Slavs are unhappy (Serbia)• Three Emperors League Dead

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D. Alliance with Russia and Austria

• 1879 Germany and Austria sign Dual Alliance– France was still a threat– Concern over Russia– Treaty was secret and renewed until 1918

• Bismarck saw treaty as defensive– Not concerned with Balkan Peninsula– Did not want war with Russia

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E. The Triple Alliance

• Italy joins alliance in 1882– Angered at France in Tunisia– Saw alliance as defensive

• 1887-Reinsurance Treaty with Russia– Pledged neutrality– Further isolated France

• Bismarck successfully isolates France by 1888

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III. Forging the Triple Entente

A. Kaiser William II B. German and British

competitionC. The Entente

CordialD. Britain and RussiaE. Final Alliances

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A. Kaiser William II

• Kaiser William II dismisses Bismarck 1890

• Refuses to continue Reinsurance Treaty with Russia

• France sees an opportunity– Russia desperate for capital– France desperate for an ally

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B. German and British competition

• German economy rivaled Britain

• Kaiser saw Britain as a rival

• Challenged British interests in Africa

• Germany challenged British navy– By 1900 Germany planned to build 38

battleships– Britain was horrified

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C. The Entente Cordial:1904

• Resolved colonial differences with France– Opened possibility of Anglo-

Franco cooperation

• Britain also cooperated with Japan against Russia in Pacific.– Did not actively support

Japan

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D. Britain and Russia

• Britain fears growing German naval power

• Growing German power threatens both Russia and Britain

• Russia and Britain settles disputes over Central Asia by 1907

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E. Final Alliances form.

• England, France and Russia are the Triple Entente

• Germany and Austria Hungary form the Central powers, with Italy they are known as the Triple Alliance.

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IV. Nationalism

A. German Ambitions

B. Italian Unification

C. The Balkan Peninsula

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A. German Ambitions

• Nationalism is – the belief that one’s greatest loyalty is to your nation – each ethnic group will have their own nation.– composed of similar people (Language, Ethnicity and Culture)

• England and France had developed as Nations and formed empires

• Germany was a new nation formed in 1871• Saw itself as a new empire

– Deserved respect– Deserved power– Deserved colonies

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B. Italian Unification

• Italy was divided and largely under foreign control.

• Sardinia, the only Italian controlled province, and France fought Austria.– Sardinia gets Northern Italy.– France gets Nice and Savoy.

• Southern Italy was united with Northern Italy in 1861.

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C. The Balkan Peninsula

• Ottoman empire was receding

• Russia wanted to lead a Slavic empire

• Austria-Hungary had interests– Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Serbia wanted its own greater nation

• All of these national interests will clash

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Ottoman Empire

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V. Militarism

• It was the belief that military force was a viable option to attain political goals.

• Otto Von Bismarck used his military to unite Germany.

• Many nations romanticized the use of military forces.

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Terms

• Imperialism• Nationalism• Militarism• Dual Alliance• Triple Alliance• Entente Cordial• Triple Entente

• Balkan Peninsula• Serbia• Bosnia-Herzegovina• Ottoman Empire

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What do we know?

• What were the sources of instability in Europe?

• How did Bismarck secure stability for Germany?

• How did William II destroy this stability?• Describe British and French responses to

Germany power.• The importance of nationalism and the

Balkan Peninsula.

unit 6 topic 1 notes - german empire and alliances

Education

britain russia

russia treaty

russia britain fears

russia francesees

size russia

triple alliance italy

isolated france bismarck

russia final alliances