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Questions and Answers
What was the primary concern of Russia regarding Germany and Austria-Hungary in the early 20th century?
Russia was primarily concerned that Germany would expand into its territory and that Austria-Hungary would take measures against the Slavs, particularly Russians and Serbians.
How did 'splendid isolation' relate to Britain's foreign policy before the early 20th century?
Britain's 'splendid isolation' was a foreign policy that avoided entanglements in European conflicts, relying on its powerful navy and empire for security.
Describe the relationship between King George V and Kaiser Wilhelm II, and its significance in the context of European tensions.
King George V and Kaiser Wilhelm II were cousins, which highlighted the personal connections that existed between European monarchs, yet their rivalry epitomized the growing tensions leading to World War I.
What was the moral obligation defined by the Triple Entente among Russia, France, and Great Britain?
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What were the main motivations for the formation of political alliances in early 20th century Europe?
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What impact did nationalism have on the rivalries between the Great Powers prior to World War I?
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How did industrialization contribute to the rivalry between European nations leading up to World War I?
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Explain the significance of Alsace-Lorraine in the context of German-French relations.
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In what way did nationalism affect tensions within Austria-Hungary before World War I?
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How did the alliance system impact the likelihood of war in Europe from 1905 to 1914?
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Study Notes
The Alliance System, 1905-1918
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Triple Alliance (1905): Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
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Triple Entente (1907): Russia, France, and Great Britain
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France sought to recover the industrial region of Alsace-Lorraine from Germany. The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) resulted in the region being annexed by Germany.
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Germany feared a French attack for Alsace-Lorraine and viewed French expansion as a threat.
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Austria-Hungary faced internal tensions from various nationalities within its empire, especially from Serbs who hoped to join Serbia. Emperor Franz-Joseph wanted to maintain the empire's unity.
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Russia, as a protector of Serbs, viewed Austria-Hungary's actions as a threat to the Slav (Russian and Serbian) people.
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Great Britain was concerned about German naval expansion and its growing threat to the British Empire's naval dominance.
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Italy joined the Triple Alliance to strengthen its position and gain power.
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The Entente Cordiale (1904): A friendly agreement between Great Britain and France, marking a shift in British policy from "splendid isolation."
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Tensions in 1905 highlighted the growing competition for power and influence among European nations, eventually leading to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
Europe in 1905: Key Nations and Demographics
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Germany: Industrialized powerhouse, highly successful in industry and technology. Ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
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Great Britain: World's first industrialized nation, dominant in trade and industry. The first country to industrialize.
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France: Mostly rural country with industry in the northeast. The birth rate had been falling and the population was ageing.
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Italy: Unified in 1871; primarily agrarian with industry in northern areas.
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Austria-Hungary: A multi-ethnic empire facing challenges in managing nationalism.
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Russia: Enormous and poor empire comprising various ethnic groups. Tsar Nicholas II ruled.
Key Individuals
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Kaiser Wilhelm II: Ruled Germany, shared a grandmother (Queen Victoria) with King George V of Britain. Born with a withered left arm, but became a noted horseman and excelled in various physical activities.
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Emperor Franz-Joseph: Ruled Austria-Hungary, concerned with keeping his multi-national empire united.
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King Edward VII: Ruled Great Britain, the first industrial nation in the world.
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Tsar Nicholas II: Ruled Russia, the largest and one of the poorest countries in the world.
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King George V of Great Britain was a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Their Shared grandmother was Queen Victoria.
"Moral Obligation" and the Rise of International Tensions
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The Triple Entente wasn't a formal agreement to go to war, but the nations agreed to support each other morally.
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This "moral obligation" contributed to the escalation of tensions, creating a dangerous atmosphere where a small conflict could quickly escalate into a major war.
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Description
Explore the complex web of alliances during the period from 1905 to 1918, focusing on the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. Understand the motivations of key players like Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, Great Britain, and Italy as they navigated national interests and tensions leading up to World War I.
