How and why did the Alliance System contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?

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  1. How and why did the Alliance System contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?

In 1873, Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany started a series of alliances with other countries to isolate France, and to prevent her from taking revenge against Germany after her loss in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871. The Alliance System played an important role in leading to the First World War mainly because it divided the European powers into two rival military camps, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente by 1907. The rivalry between the two camps brought about the First World War. Also, the alliance system turned simple quarrels into complicated conflicts, thus leading directly to the outbreak of the First World War.

Firstly, after the setting up of the Alliance System, there wasn’t a country that could manoeuvre / mediate, because the European Powers had either joined the Triple Alliance or the Triple Entente.

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Secondly, most of the details of the alliances were kept secret. For example, the Dual Alliance was formed secretly as German was not willing to antagonize Russia. As a result, mutual suspicions and fears among the powers were deepened and the powers watched others more suspiciously. Tension between the two military camps was further increased.

Thirdly, because of the assurance provided by the alliance system, the European powers believe that their allies would give them military support if war broke out, so they became less willing to settle disputes by peaceful means.

Fourthly, the two camps felt the urge ...

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