On the Eve of the Great WarNationalism and Alliances

Presentation created by Robert MartinezPrimary Content Source: Prentice Hall World HistoryImages as cited.

By the early 1900s, many efforts were

underway to end war and foster

understanding between nations. In

1896, the first modern Olympic games were

held in Athens. Its founder hoped the

games would promote “love of peace and

respect for life.”cameronfisher.com.au

Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, regretted the military uses of his invention. In his will, he set up the annual Nobel Peace Prize to reward

people who worked for peace.

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The struggle for women’s suffrage supported the peace movement. Dutch doctor Aletta Jacobs argued that if women won the vote, they could prevent war. “They

don’t feel as men do about war,” Jacobs said, “They are the mothers of the race.” Organizations such as the

Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom

promoted pacifism, or opposition to all war.

www.leiron.be

Governments too, backed peace efforts. In 1899, many world leaders attended the First Universal Peace Conference in the Netherlands. They set up the Hague Tribunal, a world court to settle

disputes between nations. The Hague Tribunal could not force nations to submit their disputes,

nor could it enforce its rulings. Still, it was a step toward keeping the peace.

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At the same time, other powerful forces were pushing Europe to the brink of war. Aggressive

nationalism was one leading cause of international tension. Nationalist feeling were strong in both Germany and France. Germans

were proud of their new empire’s military power and industrial leadership.

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France longed to regain its position as Europe’s leading power. The French were

especially bitter about their 1871 defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the German

occupation of the border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. Patriotic French citizens yearned for revenge against Germany and recovery of

the “lost provinces.”

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In Eastern Europe, Russia sponsored a powerful form of nationalism called Pan-

Slavism. It held that all Slavic peoples shared a

common nationality. As the largest Slavic country,

Russia felt that it had a duty to lead and defend all Slavs.

By 1914, it stood ready to support Serbia, a proud

young nation that dreamed of creating a South Slav

state.

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Two old multinational empires particularly

feared rising nationalism. Austria-Hungary worried that nationalism might foster rebellion among

the many minority populations within its

empire. Ottoman Turkey felt threatened by new nations on its borders,

such as Serbia and Greece.

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In 1912, several Balkan states attacked Turkey. The next year, the new Balkan states fought

among themselves over the spoils of war. These brief but bloody Balkan

wars raised tensions to a fever pitch. By 1914, the

Balkans were the “powder keg of Europe” – a tiny spark might lead to

an explosion.alsayeghmedia.net

Economic rivalries further poisoned the international atmosphere. Britain felt threatened by Germany’s rapid

economic growth. By 1900, Germany’s new factories were out producing Britain’s older ones. Britain,

therefore, had strong economic reasons to oppose Germany in any conflict. The Germans, in turn, thought

the other great powers did not give them enough

respect.

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Imperial rivalries also divided European nations. In 1905 and again in 1911, competition for colonies

brought France and Germany to the brink of war. Although diplomats kept the peace, Germany did gain some territory in central Africa. As a result, Britain and France began to form close ties against

Germany.www.kaskapointe.fr

The 1800s saw a rise in militarism, the glorification of the military. It grew partly out of Social Darwinism. Echoing the idea of “survival of the fittest,” one German militarist

called war “a biological necessity of the first importance.” Militarists painted war in romantic colors. Young men dreamed of blaring trumpets and dashing

cavalry charges, not at all the sort of conflict they would soon face.

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With international tensions on the rise, the great powers expanded their armies and navies. The result was an

arms race that further increased suspicions and made war more likely. The fiercest competition was the naval rivalry between Britain and Germany. To protect its vast

overseas empire, Britain had built the world’s most

respected navy.

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As Germany began acquiring overseas colonies, it began to build up its own

navy. Suspicious of Germany’s motives,

Britain in turn increased naval spending.

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As readiness for war came to dominate national policy, military leaders came to gain wider influence. On matters of peace and war,

governments turned to military leaders for advice. German generals and British admirals enjoyed great respect and got more funds to

build up their forces.

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Distrust led the great powers to sign treaties pledging to defend one another. These alliances were intended to create power combinations that no one would

dare attack. Gradually, two huge

alliances emerged.

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The first of these alliances had its origins in Bismarck’s day. He knew that France longed to avenge its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Sure that France

would not attack Germany without help, Bismarck signed treaties with other powers. In 1882, he formed the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary. In

1914, when war did erupt, Germany and Austria-Hungary fought on the same side. They became known

as the Central Powers.

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A rival bloc took the shape in 1894, when France and Russia formed an alliance. IN 1904, France and Britain signed an entente, a nonbinding agreement to follow

common policies. Though not as formal as a treaty, the entente led to close military and diplomatic ties. Britain later signed a similar agreement with Russia. When the war began, these powers became known as the Allies.

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Other alliances also formed. Germany

signed a treaty with the Ottoman empire, while Britain drew close to Japan. The growth of rival alliance systems

increased international tensions. A local

conflict could easily mushroom into a great

war. www.xtimeline.com