-France was humiliated by the loss of their land and had to pay a huge amount of reparations.
-Formation of the Dreikaiserbund (Three Emperors’ League) (GRAh) 1873
Germany, Russia and Austria Hungary form an alliance, keep France isolated. (Hohenzollerns, Romanovs, Habsburgs) Bismark is the one manipulating and controlling everything. The kings of the three countries were just following his plans.
-Dual alliance (GAh) 1879
Austria-Hungary VS Russia over the Balkans, collapse of the Dreikaiserbund. Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed on a mutual assistance in case of Russian attack. Agreed to neutrality if either is attacked by another European country. (Bismark’s aim to limit possibility of war between powers.)
-Germany seals an alliance with Austria Hungary, they are both Germans and in a sense would always back each other up.
-Three Emperors’ Alliance (GRAh) 1881
If Russia, Germany or Austria were at war with another powerm the others wi=ould remain neutral.
-Triple Alliance (GAhl) 1882
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy-mutual assistanance in case of attack.
-Reassurance Treaty (GR) 1887
Tension in the Balkans again between AH and R. Germany draws up a treaty with Russia to avoid a war on two fronts. Again, BIsmarck’s work to try and stabilize the balance of powers in Europe and the keep strong the Germans’ stance. Bismarck kept forming alliances.
-Ascension of Wilhelm II 1888
Young ambitious emperor, keen advocate of all things military, known for his bad temper ascended the throne after the death of his father Wilhelm I.
-Bismarck resigns, Reinsurance Treaty lapses 1890
Wilhelm II and Bismarck’s replacement-Chancellor Leo von Caprivi take German foreign policy on a ‘new course’ that would overturn Bismarck’s carefully nurtured system of alliances. The reinsurance Treaty was allowed to lapse Realpolitik>>Weltpolitik (increase Germany’s global strength through building up the navy and colonial expansion)
-Franco-Russian Alliance 18994
Tsar Nicholas II comes to the Russian throne. Political and military alliance for mutual assistance if either attacked by Germany, and/or Austria-Hungary. Also immediate mobilization in response to any of the Triple Alliance mobilizing. Here we see a strong military alliance. Mobilization: moving troops.
-Austro-Russian Agreement 1897
To maintain status quo in the Balkans for the next decade.
-Fashoda Incident 1898
Climax of Anglo-French imperial territorial disputes in Easter Africa. Confrontation and possibility of war over French attempts to claim Sudan (threaten British control of Egypt)
Britain’s naval power recognized by Delcasse(French foreign minister), worked towards resolution-French quietly withdrew, agreed that source of Nile and Congo rivers would mark the frontiers of respective spheres of influence.
Colonial influence: post Fashoda incident-British (yellow), French (pink).
-German Naval Law 1898
Admiral von Tirpitz pushed for building of 16 ships over next 3 years to challenge Britain, law passed to build 7.
-Second German Naval War 1900
Anglo-German tension over the Second Boer War-German mail steamers were wrongfully searched by British patrol cruises (accused of trying to smuggle weapons to help Boers in their fight against the British) = allowed Tripitz to get this law passed in the Reichstag. This law doubled the size of the fleet from 19 to 38 battleships; two flagships, four battle squadrons of eight battleships each, and four reserve battleships were to be constructed over seventeen years from 1901 to 1917. (This increase in battleships immediately raised British suspicions and the British became wary of them.) Such rapid expansion would threaten Britain.
(Japan-aggressive in the way of taking territories to create a large sphere of control (imperialism). As historians, certain circumstances shape people.) –see notes.
