In
6. European diplomacy and the First
World War, 1870-1923
•
European diplomacy and the
changing balance of power after
1870
1821-1832: Greek War of
Independence
Ottoman Empire = “sick man of Europe”?
1848-1851: Rise of Napoleon III
in France
Expansionist France?
1854-56: Crimean War
Britain & France team up
to defeat a nonindustrial Russia
1815 CONGRESS OF VIENNA
SETTLEMENT
Balance of power = A situation in which
the most powerful nations in the world have
roughly equal power
War of 1859, Italian unification
(1861-70)
Danish War (1862), Seven Weeks
War & Franco-Prussian War lead to
German unification
Will Germany become the European hegemon?
In
6. European diplomacy and the First
World War, 1870-1923
Balance of power = A situation in which
the most powerful nations in the world have
roughly equal power
•
European diplomacy and the
changing balance of power after
1870
•
6. European diplomacy and the First
World War, 1870-1923
WILHELM I & BISMARCK
Maintain unified German Empire
AIMS
Isolate France to protect Germany
from possible war of revenge
Europe = main focus; economic growth
System of defensive alliances centered
upon Germany (NO rival alliances)
METHODS
Peace conferences in Berlin (1878, 1885)
to prevent wider wars from developing
Took relatively few colonies
CONTINUITY
Dual Alliance w/ A-H = 1879-1914
Triple Alliance w/ Italy, A-H = 1882-1914
Emphasis on speed of maneuver (military)
France still main rival
Aims, methods, continuity and
change in German foreign policy
to 1914
WILHELM II
“Respect,” “A place in the sun” =
Weltpolitik (“world policy”)
Alliance with Britain (one side of his
family was British)
Did not renew Reinsurance Treaty w/
Russia in 1890 - led to rival alliance of
France & Russia
When negotiations with Britain failed,
built up navy; took Pacific colonies
CHANGE
Bismarck: prevent war & isolate France w/ no
rival alliances; peace w/ Russia essential;
colonialism less important; army is focus.
Wilhelm II: Russia = natural enemy; courted
British alliance; led to rival alliances; seeks
“place in the sun”; naval building essential
6. European diplomacy and the First
World War, 1870-1923
•
Global colonial rivalry
GLOBAL COLONIAL
RIVALRY
Desire for empire caused increased
competition
KEY IMPERIAL RIVALRIES:
* Britain vs. France in Africa
* Britain vs. Russia in Asia
* France vs. Italy in Africa
Increased competition over territory
caused increased tensions
SUEZ CRISIS (1882) &
FASHODA CRISIS (1898)
Britain and France nearly went to war
TWO MOROCCAN CRISES (1905, 1911) - France vs.
Germany