‘The break-up of Bismarck’s system of alliances after 1890 set in motion a chain of disasters that led towards the outbreak of the First World War.’ -

How far do you agree?

Learning Objective: To investigate the significance of Bismarck’s alliance systems and evaluate how far it lead towards the outbreak of WW1

Tuesday 28th April 2020

Keywords:

Alliance: A promise or agreement made between countries to protect each other in the event of a war breaking out.

Encirclement: The fear of invasion by other countries that surround your country.

What was Germany like prior to 1871?Task: Read the following information below and create a fact-file on the ‘History of Germany’ based on the subheadings:

What was ‘Germany’ Before Unification:

Unlike other countries in Europe during the 18th and early 19th century Germany did not exist as a country until 1871. Before unification, Germany consisted of 39 states. The most famous individual who is best known for unifying the German states is Otto Von Bismarck. He underwent a series of conflicts with Denmark, Austria and France to declare Germany as an independent country. He was from Prussia-the most powerful of the German states during this period.

Why were relations tense between Germany and France between 1870-71?

When France found out that Bismarck aimed to unify all the German states, they reacted by starting a war called the ‘Franco-Prussian War’ to prevent a new and growing threat to French imperial ambitions in Europe. During this conflict, France lost and famously had to give Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. As a consequence France became bitter towards and never forgave Bismarck and Germany for this defeat and sought revenge to reclaim this territory. After this war, Germany united as a country under it’s first monarch: Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck serving as chancellor.

What was the consequences of German Unification in 1871?

One consequence of German Unification was that other European countries: France, Russia and Britain became suspicious and distrusted Germany. They now saw Germany as a threat to their imperial ambitions both in Europe, Asia and Africa in creating an empire and competing for trade and other resources. Another consequence was that the success of German unification proved that that for Germany to become a ‘Great Power’ Bismarck would need to adopt methods such as: diplomacy and making alliances with other countries in Europe to secure Germany’s power but also to protect the new nation from it’s enemy France and other countries that could ‘encircle’ Germany.

Who was Otto Von Bismarck and what was his biggest fear for Germany?

Task: Watching the following video and the information below create a fact-file about Bismarck and his fears for Germany.

1) Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz9Cy0xUH0E2) Read the following information below:

Although Germany had successfully united as a country under Bismarck’s leadership, it begun to experience fears that other countries were plotting to destroy it. Bismarck’s biggest fear for Germany was the fact that due to Germany’s location in Europe (Central), in the event of war in Europe it could be ‘encircled’ by its enemies; particularly France from the West, Russia from the East and Austria-Hungary, who both Germany defeated in the wars for unification. As a result this lead Bismarck to develop a series of alliances with other European countries to stop this fear from becoming a reality.

‘What actions did Bismarck take to reduce the fear of German ‘Encirclement?’Task: Reading the information below create a fact-file about the alliances and treaties Bismarck and Germany made to overcome the problem of encirclement after unification.

Stage 1: Austria-Hungary:

Bismarck sought to improve relations with Austria-Hungary to make amends for defeating them earlier in the war of German unification. In 1879 both Germany and Austria-Hungary signed the ‘Dual Alliance.’

Stage 2: Austria-Hungary and Russia:

The Three Emperor’s League, 1881 or also known as the Dreikaiserbund. This alliance involved upkeeping positive relations between Russia and Austria-Hungary, limiting the threat from the East.

Stage 3: Italy and Austria Hungary:

Along with their alliance with Russia, Bismarck and Germany developed an alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary. This became known as the ‘Triple Alliance’ in 1882.

Stage 4: Russia:

Germany and Russia reinforced their earlier alliance by signing the Reinsurance Treaty in 1887 whereby both countries would remain neutral and not fight each other in the event of war as long as it did not involve Austria-Hungary or France.

Stage 5: Britain

What was the impact of Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe by the end of the 19th century?

‘Why did Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fall apart in the early 20th century?’Task: Reading the information below make notes under the following subheadings as to why Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fell apart in the early 20th Century.

Why did Bismarck Resign in 1890?

Bismarck had always worked hard to maintain a positive relationship with previous Kaisers (monarchs), however his biggest test was when Kaiser Wilhelm II ascended to the German throne in 1888. Unlike previous Kaiser’s Wilhelm II did not agree with Bismarck’s approach to foreign policy. For Bismarck he wanted to secure Germany’s position in Europe before expanding across the globe; however the Kaiser wanted ‘Global and Great Power Status’ immediately. After constant disagreements between them both, Bismarck resigned from his post as chancellor and German foreign policy experience aggressive changes.

What were the consequences of Bismarck’s resignation?

Furthermore when the Kaiser became emperor he believed that having an alliance with Russia undermined their friendship with Austria-Hungary. As a result in 1890, Wilhelm II chose not to renew the Reinsurance Treaty they made earlier in 1887. This meant that the fear of encirclement became a problem once more.

‘Why did Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fall apart in the early 20th century?’Task: Looking at the following source on this page answer the following questions:

1) ‘What is the message of this source?’

2) What inferences can you learn from the following source?

‘Why did Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fall apart in the early 20th century?’Task: Reading the information below make notes under the following subheadings as to why Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fell apart in the early 20th Century with different countries in Europe.

‘What happened between Germany, France and Russia after Bismarck’s dismissal in 1890?

*The Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 was only made for DEFENSIVE

purposes.*

‘Why did Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fall apart in the early 20th century?’Task: Reading the information below make notes under the following subheadings as to why Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fell apart in the early 20th Century with different countries in Europe.

‘What happened between Germany and Britain after Bismarck’s dismissal in 1890?

‘What happened between France, Russia and Britain after Bismarck’s dismissal in 1890?

Stage 1: Anglo-Japanese Naval Agreement, 1902

As a result of the 1902 Anglo-Japanese naval alliance, Great Britain no longer feared a war with Japan in order to protect its empire in the Far East. As a result Britain focused more on events happening in Europe and Africa.

Stage 2: Entente Cordiale, 1904

Britain made the Entente Cordiale (‘friendly relationship’) with France in 1904 in fear of growing German power across the world.

Stage 3:Triple Entente 1907

In 1907 Russia joined Britainand France to make the Triple Entente.

‘Why did Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fall apart in the early 20th century?’Task: Reading the information below make notes under the following subheadings as to why Bismarck’s alliance system in Europe fell apart in the early 20th Century

‘What were the consequences for Germany by not upholding Bismarck’s alliance system?

‘What other alliance existed in Europe at the beginning of the 20th Century?’Task: Reading the information below make notes under the following subheadings as to what other alliances existed in the early 20th century Europe.

‘What other alliance existed in Europe at the beginning of the 20th Century?’

Russia was also allied to Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. When trouble erupted in the Balkans in 1914, the nations found their alliances dragged them into war.

Also in 1914 Germany made an alliance with the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).

How did the Alliance System cause the First World War?

The outbreak of World War One can be described as a domino effect because when the war broke out, the alliances in Europe dragged other countries into war.

It has often been described as dominoes falling over too because the war involved a rapid chain of war declarations whereby countries started to blame and attack one another.

Task: Looking at the following source on this page answer the following questions:

1) ‘What is the message of this source?’

2) What inferences can you learn from the following source?

As historians today, it is important that these alliances by 1914 were not made for war, they were made to create a balance of power, and to provide collective security amongst the nations in each alliance.

How Significant is the Alliance System in causing World War One?

‘The break-up of Bismarck’s system of alliances after 1890 set in motion a chain of disasters that led towards the outbreak of the First World War.’ -

How far do you agree?

Your Task: Answer the following question above in a PEEL paragraph!