The Causes of World War I. Long-term Causes of World War I I. Bismarck’s Web of Alliances Main aim isolate France; stay allied with Russia – prevent.

The Causes of World War I The Causes of World War I

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I I. I. Bismarck’s Web of AlliancesBismarck’s Web of Alliances Main aim Main aim isolate France; stay allied with isolate France; stay allied with

Russia – prevent a two-front warRussia – prevent a two-front war 1) The 1) The DreikaiserbundDreikaiserbund (1873): (1873): G / A-H / R G / A-H / R 2) The Dual Alliance (1879): 2) The Dual Alliance (1879): G / A-HG / A-H

Replaced Replaced DreikaiserbundDreikaiserbund; mutual assistance; mutual assistance

3) The Three Emperor’s Alliance (1881):3) The Three Emperor’s Alliance (1881): G / R / A-H; neutrality if others attackedG / R / A-H; neutrality if others attacked

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I I. I. Bismarck’s Web of Alliances (cont’d)Bismarck’s Web of Alliances (cont’d) 4) The Triple Alliance (1882): 4) The Triple Alliance (1882): G / A-H / ItG / A-H / It

Mutual assistanceMutual assistance

5) The Reinsurance Treaty (1887): 5) The Reinsurance Treaty (1887): G & RG & R Three Emperor’s Alliance ends Three Emperor’s Alliance ends problems in problems in

the Balkansthe Balkans

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I II. II. The New Course & WeltpolitikThe New Course & Weltpolitik:: Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm II 1888 1888 1890 – resignation of Bismarck; abrupt 1890 – resignation of Bismarck; abrupt

foreign policy changeforeign policy change 1) Germany’s “New Course”1) Germany’s “New Course” Intended to simplify Bismarck’s systemIntended to simplify Bismarck’s system 18901890: : Reinsurance Treaty Reinsurance Treaty not renewednot renewed Difficult balance between A-H & R Difficult balance between A-H & R Hope for an Hope for an Anglo-German allianceAnglo-German alliance

Dropping the PilotDropping the Pilot. Caricature . Caricature by Sir John Teniel, first by Sir John Teniel, first published in the British published in the British magazine magazine PunchPunch, March 1890. , March 1890. Showing German Emperor Showing German Emperor Wilhelm II and the leaving Wilhelm II and the leaving Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The reference to Bismarck as a The reference to Bismarck as a "pilot" comes from an earlier "pilot" comes from an earlier cartoon from the Puck magazine cartoon from the Puck magazine from Saint Louis, Missouri. For from Saint Louis, Missouri. For that magazine, the cartoonist that magazine, the cartoonist Joseph Keppler made one titled Joseph Keppler made one titled "The Master Pilot of the Age", "The Master Pilot of the Age", featuring Bismarck on a ship, featuring Bismarck on a ship, having brought it out to the high having brought it out to the high seas, from which the stars and seas, from which the stars and gods looked down. This gods looked down. This symbolized Bismarck's symbolized Bismarck's accomplishment of forming the accomplishment of forming the Kaiserreich, which enabled Kaiserreich, which enabled Germany to be recognized as a Germany to be recognized as a great power. great power.

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I Results of the New CourseResults of the New Course Conditions created for the Conditions created for the Franco-Russian Franco-Russian

Alliance of 1894Alliance of 1894 Militarily Militarily mutual assistance if either was mutual assistance if either was

attacked by Germany attacked by Germany Also agreed to immediate mobilization if any Also agreed to immediate mobilization if any

Triple Alliance member mobilizedTriple Alliance member mobilized Politically Politically mutual support in imperial mutual support in imperial

disputesdisputes

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I 2) Weltpolitik 2) Weltpolitik 18961896: : ““Nothing must henceforth be settled in Nothing must henceforth be settled in

the world without the intervention of Germany the world without the intervention of Germany & the German Emperor& the German Emperor.”.”

Wilhelm IIWilhelm II Rejection of Bismarck’s “continental policy”Rejection of Bismarck’s “continental policy” Emphasis was now on overseas expansionEmphasis was now on overseas expansion ““We don’t want to put anyone else in the We don’t want to put anyone else in the

shade, but we too demand our place in the shade, but we too demand our place in the sunsun.”.”

von Bvon Bülow (German FM)ülow (German FM)

(from Left) von B(from Left) von Bülow, Bismarck, & Wilhelm IIülow, Bismarck, & Wilhelm II

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I III. III. ImperialismImperialism Main source of tension between European Main source of tension between European

powers in 1880-1905 was powers in 1880-1905 was colonial rivalriescolonial rivalries Domination of Domination of AfricaAfrica & the & the Far EastFar East Initially driven by economic motivesInitially driven by economic motives LaterLater, empire building took place due to:, empire building took place due to: Social Darwinism Social Darwinism – spread of Western – spread of Western

Civilization was “God’s Work”Civilization was “God’s Work” Nationalistic competition Nationalistic competition Ex. The Jameson Raid & Kruger telegramEx. The Jameson Raid & Kruger telegram

ImperialismImperialism

Colonization in 1800Colonization in 1800

Imperialism in 1900Imperialism in 1900

Colonialism in 1945Colonialism in 1945

The “New Imperialism”The “New Imperialism” Cecil RhodesCecil Rhodes: : ““Expansion is everything,… Expansion is everything,…

I would annex the planets if I couldI would annex the planets if I could.”.” Refers to the colonial expansion adopted Refers to the colonial expansion adopted

by Europe and, later, Japan and the US, by Europe and, later, Japan and the US, during the 19th and early 20th centuries during the 19th and early 20th centuries

expansion took place between 1830 to expansion took place between 1830 to 1914 1914

The period is distinguished by an The period is distinguished by an unprecedented pursuit of overseas unprecedented pursuit of overseas territorial acquisitionsterritorial acquisitions

Cecil RhodesCecil Rhodes: : Envisions aEnvisions a Cape Town Cape Town to to CairoCairo Railroad Railroad

PygmiesPygmies and a and a European explorer. European explorer. Some pygmies would Some pygmies would be exposed in human be exposed in human zoos, such as zoos, such as Ota Ota Benga Benga displayed by displayed by eugenicist Madison eugenicist Madison Grant Grant in the in the Bronx Bronx ZooZoo. .

A shocked mandarin A shocked mandarin in Manchu robe in the in Manchu robe in the back, with back, with Queen Queen VictoriaVictoria (Great (Great Britain), Britain), Wilhelm II Wilhelm II (Germany), (Germany), Nicholas II Nicholas II (Russia), (Russia), MarianneMarianne (France), and an (France), and an Emperor Meiji Emperor Meiji (Japan) (Japan) discussing how to cut discussing how to cut up a plate with up a plate with ChineChine ("China" in French) ("China" in French) written on it. written on it.

China: Spheres of Influence (1900)China: Spheres of Influence (1900)

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I IV. IV. The Emergence of the Alliance SystemThe Emergence of the Alliance System WeltpolitikWeltpolitik brings G & B into conflict brings G & B into conflict Admiral von Tirpitz Admiral von Tirpitz (Sec. of the Navy) – (Sec. of the Navy) –

believed Germany should mount a naval believed Germany should mount a naval challenge to Britainchallenge to Britain

The The Naval Law of 1898 Naval Law of 1898 was pushed was pushed through the through the ReichstagReichstag (17 ships over next (17 ships over next 7 years); followed by a second 7 years); followed by a second Naval Law Naval Law in 1900in 1900

Fleet was to be used asFleet was to be used as “the lever of “the lever of Weltpolitik”Weltpolitik”

Alfred von Tirpitz and the German Alfred von Tirpitz and the German Imperial NavyImperial Navy

The The WittelsbachWittelsbach class class (const. 1899 to 1904)(const. 1899 to 1904) The The BraunschweigBraunschweig class class (const. 1901 to 1906) (const. 1901 to 1906) The The DeutschlandDeutschland class class (const. 1903 and 1908)(const. 1903 and 1908)

German High Seas Fleet, with a member of the German High Seas Fleet, with a member of the BraunschweigBraunschweig class class in the lead. in the lead.

DeutschlandDeutschland class class battleships in linebattleships in line

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I IV. IV. The … Alliance System (cont’d)The … Alliance System (cont’d) Britain responds to the challenge – rejects Britain responds to the challenge – rejects

“Splendid Isolation” “Splendid Isolation” Britain begins to seek alliesBritain begins to seek allies::

Clashed w/ France @ FashodaClashed w/ France @ Fashoda Was a rival w/ Russia in the Far EastWas a rival w/ Russia in the Far East Now faced a German naval challengeNow faced a German naval challenge

1902 – alliance with Japan1902 – alliance with Japan 1904 – 1904 – Anglo-French EntenteAnglo-French Entente

Imperialism in 1900Imperialism in 1900

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I IV. IV. The … Alliance System (cont’d)The … Alliance System (cont’d) The The ententeentente with France with France Not a formal allianceNot a formal alliance Settled rivalry over colonial issues Settled rivalry over colonial issues Set a completely new direction for Anglo-Set a completely new direction for Anglo-

French relationsFrench relations 1907 – 1907 – BritainBritain and and RussiaRussia reach reach

agreement on Persia, Tibet, & Afghanistanagreement on Persia, Tibet, & Afghanistan 1907 – 1907 – Triple Entente Triple Entente formed (B, F, & R)formed (B, F, & R)

1914 Russian poster. 1914 Russian poster. The upper inscription The upper inscription reads "agreement". reads "agreement".

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I V. V. The Naval Race:The Naval Race: 1906 Britain launched a super-battleship, 1906 Britain launched a super-battleship,

the the HMS HMS DreadnoughtDreadnought Literally Literally “feared nothing” “feared nothing” (speed, range, (speed, range,

and firepower were far superior to any and firepower were far superior to any other existing battleship)other existing battleship)

IronicIronic takes the BB race back to zero takes the BB race back to zero since all others were obsolete since all others were obsolete

Pre-DreadnoughtPre-Dreadnought – the – the Lord NelsonLord Nelson-class -class battleship battleship HMS HMS AgamemnonAgamemnon

HMS HMS DreadnoughtDreadnought

HMS Dreadnought 1906 HMS Dreadnought 1906

SMS SMS RheinlandRheinland, a , a NassauNassau-class-class battleship, Germany's first battleship, Germany's first response to the response to the DreadnoughtDreadnought

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I V. V. The Naval Race:The Naval Race: By 1909By 1909 Britain ordered more ships Britain ordered more ships

constructed to respond to Germanyconstructed to respond to Germany Naval race changed Naval race changed British public opinionBritish public opinion, ,

newspapers & fiction now portrayed newspapers & fiction now portrayed GermanyGermany (rather than (rather than FranceFrance or or RussiaRussia) ) as the enemy threatening Britainas the enemy threatening Britain

Long-term Causes of World War ILong-term Causes of World War I VI. VI. The Situation in the Balkans:The Situation in the Balkans: Conflicting interests of OE, A-H, & RussiaConflicting interests of OE, A-H, & Russia A) Ottoman Empire: A) Ottoman Empire: “ the Eastern Question”“ the Eastern Question” Balkan independence movements Balkan independence movements B) Austria-Hungary:B) Austria-Hungary: receding power receding power Slavic nationalism (Serbia Slavic nationalism (Serbia Russia) Russia) C) Russia: C) Russia: Slavic nationalism Slavic nationalism Warm-water ports Warm-water ports