Transcript File

Casus Belli
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1871
Alliance system
Nationalism
Arms Race
Sarajevo
“The lights are going out”
1871
Europe in 1871
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The world was a much better place in 1871
Capitalism had created abundant affluence
La belle époque (the golden age)
International law ensured everyone had rights
and they were respected by others
But there was a serious gap between reality
and theory –the Great Powers dominated
- Britain, Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, France
They were spokesmen for the Concert of
Europe
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Peace and stability was based on the balance of
power
An attack against one was an attack against all
Liberal ideals were being replaced by more
conservative thoughts
Western Europe was considered solidified national
units
The unification of Germany had involved 3 wars and
humiliated France
France lost the Franco-Prussian war and also
Alsace and Lorraine
The Alsace-Lorraine Problem
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Alsace had been part of the HRE but had been
French for over 200 years
Lorraine was wholly French in population
The Germans hoped the French would accept the
loss they were wrong!
A modern Europe required a German state, but
which lands would that involve?
Nowhere did political frontiers match lines of
nationality
Gladstone supported every countries’ claim to
independence
Yet eastern Europe was a quilt of countries wanting
independence
Eastern Europe
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Rumania had been created in 1871 and had
been ruled by the Turks, Germans, and
Austrians
Poland was a bigger issue because it lay in the
borders of 3 other countries – Prussia, Austria,
and Russia
Bismarck had supported Russia repression of
the Poles in exchange for Russian neutrality in
the Franco-Prussian War 1870
There where 4 great empires in eastern Europe:
Germany, Russia, Austria, Turkey (Ottoman)
The Balkans
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There were also 4
independent countries:
Serbia, Montenegro,
Rumania, Greece
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They all shared 2
traits:
a) hatred of the Turks
b) the ability to be
friends with Great
Powers
Austria
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Austria had an empire but it wasn’t a nation – it was
entirely comprised of minorities
1860 Austria was defeated by the French
1866 Austria was defeated by the Germans
By 1867 Austria was neither a German nor Italian
power but it had millions of both
In 1867 Austria-Hungary was created – 2 countries –
1 ruler, hence the Dual Monarchy
Hungary was ruled by the Magyars, very pro-German
and anti-Slav and anti-Russian
European Beliefs in the Early 20th
Century
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Nobody could afford a war
There would be no winner
The growth of pacifism -war was a thing of
the past - we were civilized.
Europe had seen almost 100 years of
peace
(1871 minor war)
It would be the localized Third Balkan War
that would become World War I
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Business prevented any island from being isolated
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Foreign investment was large in every country
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Better communication, cheap newspapers
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Better educated people would prevent war
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Even victory would be expensive
Ivan Bloch - The Future of War
Norman Angell The Great Illusion (1910) won the
Nobel Prize
The problem was that there was no means for
negotiating peace
European Countries Controlled the World
Germany - won the Franco-Prussian war, gained
Alsace and Lorraine, wanted to isolate France,
economic stability, led by the Iron Chancellor
Bismarck, little interest in colonialism, unified.
France - lost Alsace and Lorraine, weak military,
imperialistic in Asia and Africa.
Great Britain - “splendid isolation”, colonial conflicts
with France and Russia
Austria - wanted to limit Slavic nationalism on
southern border and hostile nationalism within the
borders
Russia - very imperialistic throughout the century –
but overland: in the Balkans; disputes with Austria
over Slavs; Ottomans; Japanese
Italy - interest in North Africa led to disputes with
France.
The Balkans - a politically unstable region comprised
of many ethnic groups. Mostly Christian.
United States - not involved in global affairs
Alliances
The Russo-Turkish War 1877-8
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Bulgaria revolted against Ottoman Empire
(Turks) “sick man of Europe”
Turks slaughter thousands of Slavs
Serbia and Montenegro declared war on
Ottomans
Russia declares herself protector of the Slavs
Ends with the Treaty of San Stafano
Treaty of San Stefano
Increased Russian power in the Balkans and
threatened the Austrians
 At the Congress of Berlin (1878)
Bismarck(Honest Broker) created:
1 Independence for: Serbia, Montenegro, and
Romania
2 Austria received the right to administer Bosnia
and Herzegovina
3 Russia wishes to dominate a new Bulgaria
(windows to the west) and gains land in the
Caucuses
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The Driekaiserbund
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1879 Germany and Austria signed the Dual
Alliance - which remained in place for almost
40 years
The Three Emperors’ League created by
Bismarck to keep Austria and Russia at peace
Germany - Kaiser Wilhelm II
Austria - Emperor Francis Joseph
Russia - Tsar Alexander
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1881 Driekaiserbund was revived:
a) Acknowledged Russia had interest in
Bulgaria
b) Austria had interest in BosniaHerzegovenia
c) promised neutrality if anyone was
attacked by a fourth power
Birth of the Triple Alliance
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1881 France makes Tunisia a protectorate
Italy seeks allies
1882 Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria, Italy
a) both would help Italy if Italy attacked by France
b) Italy would help Germany if France attacked
c) the treaty did not apply to Britain
Germany has treaties with Austria, Italy, Russia,
and on good terms with Great Britain
End of Driekaiserbund
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1883 Austria and Rumania (later Germany
added)
1887 Driekaiserbund not renewed because of
problems between Austria and Russia
1887 Germany -Russia sign Reinsurance Treaty
a) extremely secretive
b) in the event of war both would stay neutral
except: if Austria is attacked by Russia or France
is attacked by Germany
c) Germany promised to promote Russian goals
in the Balkans
Reinsurance Treaty (1887)
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Russia dissolved Three Emperors’ Treaty
because of tensions in the Balkans
Signs new treaty with Germany - both stay
neutral unless: Germany attacks France or
Russia attacks Austria
1890 Bismarck is dismissed
France signs a military alliance with Russia
– aimed at Britain in the Med.
British-German Tension
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1896 Kaiser William sent a telegram to Transvaal
President Kruger offering support
Germany also starts to increase naval power
The Fashoda Crisis forced France to reevaluate
their foreign policy
1902 Britain signs the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
1904 Anglo-French Entente
Britain recognizes French claims to Morocco
France recognizes British claims to Egypt
1900 German prestige had deteriorated drastically
“Weltmacht” (world power) Germany wanted to be
an equal of Britain and France