Europe in 1900: Major Powers Overview
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Questions and Answers

What were the three major powers of Britain in 1900?

Strongest economic power, Strongest naval power, Strongest colonial power

What were the reasons for Russia's ambition to expand into the Balkan Peninsula?

  1. Wanted to become the leader of Slavs, 2. Wanted an ice-free port

What were the two major alliances before WWI?

The Triple Alliance (1882) : Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, The Triple Entente (1907) : France, Britain, Russia

What was the purpose of the Three Emperors' League proposed by Otto von Bismarck in 1873?

<p>To isolate France</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused countries to be less willing to settle disputes through peaceful means?

<p>The alliance system</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason the local war could easily be developed into a world war?

<p>Countries were less willing to settle disputes through peaceful means</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Germany's goal in adopting the world policy under Wilhelm II?

<p>Germany wanted to develop itself into a world power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Britain respond to Germany's naval building program?

<p>Britain formed an alliance with France and Russia, built more battleships, and invented Dreadnought in 1906.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the naval race contribute to the cause of the First World War?

<p>The naval race increased tension between Britain and Germany and led to colonial rivalries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What led to the competition for colonies among European powers?

<p>By the late 19th century, most African/Asian countries were controlled by European powers, leading to the need for competition for colonies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did colonial rivalries contribute to the cause of WWI?

<p>European countries competing for the same colonies increased tensions and led to conflicts, as seen in the Moroccan crises.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the characteristics of Extreme Nationalism?

<p>Emphasis on national glory and support for foreign expansion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Provide examples of extreme nationalism exhibited by France, Germany, and Russia.

<p>France desired revenge for the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war, Germany promoted the supremacy and glory of Germany, and Russia aimed to unite all Slavs in Europe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the First Moroccan Crisis (1905-06)?

<p>The crisis involved France attempting to take control over Morocco, countered by Germany's declaration that Morocco should remain independent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurred during the Second Moroccan Crisis (1911)?

<p>France sent troops into Morocco to suppress a revolt, which was protested by Germany sending a gunboat ('the Panther') to Morocco.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the outcomes of the Second Moroccan Crisis?

<p>Morocco became a protectorate of France, and part of French Congo was given to Germany in return.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Germany was unified in ______ after defeating France

<p>1871</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Triple Alliance (1882) included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and ______

<p>Italy</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Triple Entente (1907) consisted of France, Britain, and ______

<p>Russia</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Three Emperors' League proposed by Otto von Bismarck included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and ______

<p>Russia</p> Signup and view all the answers

A local war could easily be developed into a world war due to countries being less willing to settle disputes through peaceful means. This is an example of the ______ system causing the First World War.

<p>alliance</p> Signup and view all the answers

Italy was unified in ______ Weak economic and military power Conflict with France in Africa

<p>1871</p> Signup and view all the answers

Germany started a naval building programme under Wilhelm II to develop itself into a world power. This resulted in tension between Germany and Britain because Britain wanted to maintain their naval ________.

<p>supremacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to maintain their naval ________, Britain formed an alliance with France and Russia.

<p>supremacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Britain decided to built more battleships in response to Germany's naval building programme to maintain their naval ________.

<p>supremacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 1906, Britain invented ________ to maintain their naval supremacy.

<p>Dreadnought</p> Signup and view all the answers

The naval race between Germany and Britain increased tension between the two countries, leading to a competition for ________.

<p>colonies</p> Signup and view all the answers

European countries competing for the same ________ increased tensions and led to conflicts.

<p>colony</p> Signup and view all the answers

Extreme Nationalism emphasized national glory and supported foreign ________.

<p>expansion</p> Signup and view all the answers

France exhibited extreme nationalism by desiring revenge on Germany because of the defeat in the Franco-Prussian ________.

<p>war</p> Signup and view all the answers

Germany exhibited extreme nationalism through Pan-Germanism, which aimed to promote the supremacy and glory of ________.

<p>Germany</p> Signup and view all the answers

Russia exhibited extreme nationalism through Pan-Slavism, which aimed to unite all slavs in Europe and make European countries more ________.

<p>ambitious</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Major Powers of Britain in 1900

  • Britain was a global superpower with colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
  • The Royal Navy was the most powerful in the world and dominated the seas.
  • Britain had a strong industrial base and was the world's leading financial center.

Reasons for Russia’s Expansion in the Balkans

  • Russia sought access to the Mediterranean Sea for trade and military purposes.
  • Russia saw itself as the protector of Slavic peoples in the Balkans,
  • Russia's ambitions clashed with those of Austria-Hungary, which also had interests in the Balkans.

Major Alliances Before WWI

  • The Triple Alliance (1882) included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
  • The Triple Entente (1907) consisted of France, Britain, and Russia.

Purpose of the Three Emperors' League

  • The Three Emperors' League proposed by Otto von Bismarck in 1873 aimed to maintain peace and stability in Europe by preventing conflicts between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.

Causes of Increased Conflict

  • Countries were less willing to settle disputes through peaceful means, which made local wars escalate easily into world wars.
  • The alliance system contributed to the outbreak of the First World War by creating a chain reaction of commitments.

Germany's World Policy

  • Germany aimed to become a dominant global power under Wilhelm II's World Policy.
  • This involved expanding its military, building a larger navy to challenge Britain's naval supremacy, and seeking colonies in Africa and Asia.

Britain's Response to Germany's Naval Expansion

  • Britain responded to Germany's naval expansion by increasing its own shipbuilding program to maintain its naval dominance.
  • This naval race led to increased tensions between the two countries, increasing the risk of conflict.

Colonial Rivalry

  • European powers competed for colonies in Africa and Asia, which led to increased tensions and triggered skirmishes.
  • These rivalries became a significant source of conflict that contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Characteristics of Extreme Nationalism

  • Extreme nationalism highlighted the superiority of one nation above others.
  • It often involved glorifying one's own nation while demonizing other nations, fostering mistrust and hostility.

Examples of Extreme Nationalism

  • France: Sought revenge against Germany for the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.
  • Germany: Embraced Pan-Germanism, aiming to promote the supremacy and glory of the German nation.
  • Russia: Supported Pan-Slavism, aiming to unite all Slavic peoples in Europe and advance Russian influence.

First Moroccan Crisis (1905-06)

  • Cause: Germany challenged France's control of Morocco, hoping to undermine French power and weaken the Triple Entente.
  • Outcome: Germany backed down, but the crisis increased tensions between France and Germany.

Second Moroccan Crisis (1911)

  • Cause: Germany sent a gunboat to Agadir, Morocco, to assert its interests, again undermining French control.
  • Outcomes: Germany was forced to concede to French control of Morocco. The crisis further heightened tensions between Germany and France and strengthened the Triple Entente.

Unification and Alliances

  • Germany was unified in 1871 after defeating France.
  • The Triple Alliance (1882) included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
  • The Triple Entente (1907) consisted of France, Britain, and Russia.
  • The Three Emperors' League included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.

Italy's Unification

  • Italy was unified in 1861.

Consequences of Extreme Nationalism

  • French, German, and Russian nationalism contributed to the growing tensions and mistrust among European powers, creating a climate ripe for conflict.

The Alliance System as a Cause of WWI

  • The alliance system amplified tensions, creating a chain reaction of commitments that made it difficult for countries to back down from conflicts, even when they did not actively want war.
  • Germany's naval expansion, combined with Britain's response, fueled a naval race that further increased tensions between the two countries.
  • Both nations competed for control of the seas, which was crucial for their economic and military interests.

Competition for Colonies

  • The economic and political ambitions of European nations led to competition for colonies, which fuelled conflict and made peaceful resolutions more difficult.

Britain's Naval Supremacy

  • To maintain its naval supremacy, Britain sought to build more battleships, form alliances, and introduce new technologies like the Dreadnought.
  • The naval race between Britain and Germany increased tensions, making conflict more likely.

Summary

  • The build-up to WWI was fueled by a complex web of factors. These included nationalistic fervor, economic competition, colonial rivalries, militarism, and the rigid alliance systems that transformed local conflicts into global ones.

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Test your knowledge about the major European powers in 1900, including Britain, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Learn about their economic, military, and colonial strengths and ambitions.

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