Lesson 8
The Alliance System: A 'Search fPr Security
Objective
• To understand the need for and complexity
of the pre-World War I aliiance system
Notes to the Teacher
Basing his policies on the historic concept of
the balance of power. Bismarck sought protec­
tion for his new Gennan Empire through a
series of alliances that were designed ·to insure
the status quo by engineering the pennanent
isolation of France. However. the system was
flawed in several respects: first. it temporartly
brought together incompatible states: second. it
was based on Bismarck's personal ability to
control the delicate balance: and third. in time it
only encouraged other nations to seek alliances
to maintain their own integrity against the alli­
ance whose major purpose was preservation of
the Gennan Empire. In 1890. Kaiser Wilhelm II.
pursuing a more aggressive foreign policy. al~
ienated the RussIans and dismissed Bismarck.
In so domg. he dramatically altered the nature
of the alliance system. In the end. new alliances
accelerated the progress toward the Great War
instead of maintaining peace.
In this lesson. students identify for home­
work ten steps in the construction of the great
prewar alliance system. In class they do a short
reading to interpret contrasting goals of Bis­
marck and Wilhelm II. To conClude the lesson"
they complete a visual demonstrating the rami­
fications ofWilhelm's dismissal of Bismarck for
the course of international relations in the next
generation.
Name______~_--------------------
Advanced Placement European History II
Lesson 8
Handout 8 (page 1)
t,
Date______~---------------------
The Alliance System: A Search for Security
~,:, .
Part A. For homework. identify and tell the significance of each of the fc;>lIowing teITI1s.
J'
Treaty of Frankfurt. 1871:
League of Three Emperors. 1873:
Secret Austro-Gerrnan Alliance. 1879:
Alliance of Three Emperors. 1881:
Triple Alliance. 1882:
Reinsurance Treaty. 1887:
Refusal of Reinsurance Treaty. 1890:
Russo-French rapprochement. 1894:
Entente Cordiale. 1904:
Anglo-French Entente. 1907:
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41
Advanced Placement European Histoxy II
Lesson 8 Handout 8 (page 2) Name,______~__~--------~----_____ Date___________~------------------
Part B. Read the following short biographies of Bismarck and Wilhelm II and answer the questions at
the end.
Otto
uon Bismarck
(1815-1898)
Otto von Bismarck created and molded the Gennan Empire. He was a
powerfully built Prusslan Junker who was sophisticated. Intellectual. and
sensitive to the pOintofhysterta; but he was also a q,espairing conservative who
had no faJth in the future. and like Metternich saw the new movements of
llberaUsm and democracy as evU. He had a singular goal: the unIfication of
Germany. This unity was realized in such a way as to make Prussia supreme
in Germany. the King supreme in Prussia. and Bismarck essentially supreme
over the King. Understanding the art of the possible. he waged a sedes of wars
that were calculated to forge the new nation. and then he developed a system
of alliances to secure the status quo and preserve his creation. His system of
alliances preserved peace. but it also created the imbalance and tension that
was in large part responsible for World War I. As a Junker he understood ab­
solute obedience to his sovereign and was schooled in a toughness ofimind that
allowed him to batter down any poUtician or theory that dared to cross him.
Thus he crushed any moves toward a more democratic government. As a sen­
sitive intellectual he was determined to stay In power to insure the continuation
of his treasured German Empire. In 1890 in confrontation with a new Ruler.
Bismarck was dismissed from his position as Imperial Chancellor. The machln­
exy that he had introduced to continue a world with himself at the helm. now
fell Into more unrellable hands. And thus a British politician could say of him:
~He made Germany great and Germans small. ~
Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941)
Wilhelm became German Kaiser (Emperor) and King ofPrussia in 1888 and
reigned untJl his fall at the end ofWorld War I in 1918. He was a megalomaniac
whose madcap personality also fit the expressions of intense German nation­
alism that antedated the Great War. German nationalism needed a figure of
heroiC proportions who would lead the new country- to deeds ofromanUc gloxy.
WJlhelm fit the bill with his grandiose belief in his own importance. his love of
uniforms. and his intense restlessness. Famillar problems led him to an
endless desire to best his English relatives (through his mother he was the
grandson ofQueen Victoria) and find a place in the sun [or the German Empire.
The imperial government forged by Bismarck had placed supreme executive
and militaxy power IKommando Gewalt) in the hands of the Kaise~; and once
Bismarck was gone. the Ruler could in fact exercise these unrestrained. As he
himself said.•As for having to sink my Ideas and feelings at the bidding of the
people that is a thing unheard of in Prussian histoxy or the traditions of my
House. What the Gennan Emperor. King of Prussia thinks right and best for his
people he does." Determined to show imperial might. he pursued a course of
·Weltpolitik" (world politics) that had no real goals beyond "glory." In so doing.
he created numerous moments of international tension. which could be
summed up by the comment of the British pol1tician. Earl Grey: The German
Emperor is Uke a battleship with steam up and screws going. 1::)ut with no
rudder. and he will run into something someday and cause a catastrophe.'
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42
Not for resale.
Name______~--------------------
Advanced Placement European History II
Lesson 8
Handout 8 (page 3)
Date______~---------------------
1. What were Bismarck's goals?
2. What were the major goals of Wilhelm II in leading the Gennan nation?
3. How did the dismissal of Bismarcl~ change the fortunes of Europe?
4. What became the new line-up of European nations after the dismissal of Bismarck?
5. What were obvious strengths and weaknesses of each grouping of nations?
6. . Why did the new balance bring together such incompatible partners?
~
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43
)
Name,_ _________i -______________~_
Advanced Placement European History II
Lesson 8 Handout 8 (page 4)
Date__________-r__
~~=_
_ __ _ _ _ _ __ _
Part C. Complete the visual below according to these directions:
a. Create a title for the visual.
b. Devise cartoons, diagrams, or piclures that will accurately convey differences before and after the
event in the central cartoon.
c. Summarize your visual by writing at the bottom the ramifications of the events portrayed for the
security of Europe. 1870-1914.
Fig. 8.1. Crane Brinton. John S , Chris­
topher. and Robert Lee Wolff. A History
o!Civilization. 1815 to the Present, 4th
ed. (Englewood Cliffs. N.J. : Prentice-Hall,
1971).826.
Summary:
.
e COPYRIGHT. The Center for Learning. Used with
44
permission. Not for resale.