WWI+Begins

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Causes of WWI
By 1914 Europe had enjoyed a world of relative peace. Idealists hoped for a permanent end of war. International events such as the first modern Olympic games in 1896 and the First Universal Peace Conference in 1899 were steps toward keeping the peace. Not everyone was so hopeful. "I shall not live to see the Great War, but you will see it and it will start in the east." Bismarks prediction came true.

Competition
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Britain, France and Russia signed treaties pledging to defend one another. These alliances were intended to promote peace by creating powerful combinations that no one would dare attack. In the end they had the opposite effect. Two huge alliances emerged.

Bismark knew that France wanted to avenge there loss in the Franco-Prussian war. Sure that France wouldn't attack Germany without help Bismark signed treaties with other powers. In 1882 Germany's Chancellor Bismark formed a triple alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy. They fought with each other on the same side and they became known as the central powers. France and Russia formed an alliance in 1893 which led to close military and diplomatic ties. In 1904 France and Britain signed an entente or a non-binding agreement to follow common policies. There rivalries and nationalism increased tensions over time. Austria and Ottoman-Turkey struggled to survive in the age of nationalism. Britain felt threaten by Germany's rapid economic growth. Germany feared that Russia would catch up to them with there vast natural resources. Russia just needed to catch up on technology to be able to catch up with powers such as Germany. Britain and france strengthened their ties against Germany. Nationalism was strong in both Germany and France. Germans were proud of there new empire's military power and industrial leadership. In 1912 several Balkan states attacked turkey and succeeded in taking a large area of land, The Balkans were called the powder keg of europe. The franco prussian war increased tension between French and Germany nations. The powder keg. The grea war began in eastern Europe and many serbians did not want to be under Austrian rule. Then huge conflict between Serbia and the huge empire of Austria grew rapidly Gavrilo Princip fired twice and killed archduke and his wife. The assignation came to be a giant shock.
 * Nationalism**

Alliances Kick In
After Ausria's declaration of war, Serbia turned to it's ally, Russia. The tsar asked the kaiser to convince Austria to soften it's demands. Russia in turn appealed to its ally in France. Germany asked France to stay out of the war and France refused so Germany declared war on France. Italy chose to stay neutral for the time being. Germany's location presented the possibility of a two front war. Britain had to decide quikly whether or not to support its ally France. Germany had to defeat France quilky so that its armies could turn and go fight Russia. Military leaders insisted that they must mobilize their forces immediately to accomplish their military goals.





Era 7 Europe Before WWI End and Consequences of WWI Making The Peace Inter War Years WWII
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