International Rivalry and the Coming of War

By: Thane and Dominique

Bismarckian System

• In 1873 Bismarck made an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia.

• These states were the traditionally conservative powers.

The Balkans

• The Balkans main problem was the by-product of the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.

• The Ottoman Empires destruction frightened other European powers because of each others designs for the Balkans so they tried to keep the Ottoman Empire alive

• This caused tension between Russia and Austria who both wanted the Balkans for their own designs.

New Crises

• Emperor William II tried to enhance German power in the world

• Bismarck dropped the Reinsurance treaty with Russia

• But the dropping of the treaty brought, Bismarck’s worst fear, Russia and France closer together.

• In 1894 France and Russia concluded a military alliance.

Triple Entente

• After Germany dropped their treaty with Russia, Russia, France, and Great Britain formed a loose confederation known as the Triple Entente.

• The Triple Entente caused Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy to form their own triple alliance.

Trouble in the Balkans

• Austria annexed two Slavic speaking countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina

• That annexation destroyed the hopes of Serbia creating a grand Serbian empire

• Austria thought that a large Serbian empire would threaten the unity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

• Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro, organized the Balkan League and defeated the Ottomans in the first Balkan War.

Serbia

• Serbia’s main goal at the time was to acquire Albanian territory that would give it a port on the Adriatic Sea.

• Austria stopped Serbia’s advance by creating an independent Albania.

• Serbians started to portray the Austrians as monsters for keeping Serbs from creating their own Serbian empire.

Work Cited

• Unknown. "Triple Entente." HowStuffWorks. How Stuff Works Inc., 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-i/triple-entente.htm>.

• Young, G. "Balkan Wars." Infoplease. Infoplease, 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0805909.html>.