--Did the alliance Alliance System make war more likely or less likely? The Alliance System between
the European countries divided the continent into two rival groups. In 1817, Germany gained control
over the region of Alsace-Lorraine as a prize for wining the Franco-Prussian War. Otto von Bismarck,
the German chancellor, knew that one day, France would regain the land by getting help from the oth
er countries. In order to prevent this, he made alliances with the other European countries. In orde
r to isolate France, in 1872, the Three Emperor's League was made, which was an alliance between Ger
many, Austria-Hungary and Russia. The Triple Alliance was then formed in 1882, which included German
y, Italy and Austria-Hungary. This alliance promised that all the members would help each other if o
ne of them were attacked. The Reinsurance Treaty was made with Russia in 1887, because Russia and Au
stria-Hungary were potential powers. This allowed both countries to stay neutral if the other was ha
ving a war. Everything went well, until a new German Kaiser named William II came to throne. He took
away Bismarck's political power, and abandoned the alliance with Russia, since he thought that it w
as not needed. Also, it was because William II wanted to have better relationships with Austria-Hung
ary and have a more reliable ally. The Triple Alliance was broken. As Bismarck had expected, France
too, started looking for allies in order to regain the region of Alsace-Lorraine. After being defeat
ed in the Franco-Prussian War, the French had learned that they were powerless. They needed the help
of other countries to make a revenge on Germany. After William II abandoned the treaty with Russia,
soon in 1894, Russian made an alliance with France. Although Britain had been refusing to make alli
ances with the other European countries, because they were afraid that Germany was to become a power
ful enemy, they decided to cooperate with France. Their alliance was held in 1904. France improved t
he relationship between Russia and Britain. Although Britain and Russia were enemies, competing for
land in western Asia, because they both had a common future enemy - Germany, the two countries decid
ed to sign an agreement to fight together in 1907. The alliance between France, Russia, and Britain
developed friendship between the countries, known as the Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance was a m
ilitary pact made by Germany, to prevent France from regaining the region of Alsace-Lorraine. The Tr
iple Entente was an alliance of friendship between France, and its alliance partners. The alliance s
ystem only made war more likely, for it clearly made two rival sides. Also, alliances made domino ef
fect, or chain reactions. If one country was attacked, the other members of the alliance got involve
d in the war as well, making a conflict superior. -- How far did colonial problems create tensions b
etween the Great Powers? Although the countries were tied by the alliances, competitions in gaining
control over colonies in Africa, and the military development (also know as the Arm Race) did not st
op. Since Germany was the leader in military organization, the other European countries copied the u
niversal conscription, large reserves and the detailed planning of the Prussian System. For many yea
rs, countries worked on increasing their armaments and troops (though, the Britain did not have to w
orry about their number of weapons, since their armies were very large already). As one country deve
loped it armies or weapons, the other countries also did the same. Between 1870 and 1914, the armies
of France and Germany doubled it size. Armies, navies, and naval forces were greatly expanded. As t
his happened, imperialism also increased the rivalry of the European countries. Since countries such
as Great Britain, Germany, and France needed to gain new foreign markets and new sources of raw mat
erials, they competed for economic expansion in Africa. Germany and Italy were late in entering the
"race for colonies", and were desperate to catch up with Britain and France. Imperialism made coloni
al rivalries, and increased jealousy and mistrust among the countries. The first Morocco Crisis in 1
905-1906, and the second Morocco Crisis in 1911, almost led the European countries into war. These c
rises made a stronger bond between Britain and France, but also worsened the relationships of two ri
val sides, Germany and France. The colonial problems led WWI even more likely, and developed the ten
sion of war. -- Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve? The Bal
kans was controlled by three great powers, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungarian Empire, and the Russian
Empire. After Serbia and the other Balkan states gained independence (except for Bosnia and Herzego
vina) in 1878, the Slav nationalists in Serbia aimed to become more powerful and take control over t
he other states. Though, a belief in Pan-Slavism wanted Russia to control them. This was because Rus
sia was very powerful, and could protect them. Austria feared the expansion of Serbia. If Serbia bec
ame powerful, Austria knew that the empire would be broken. In 1912, the first Balkan War was held.
Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro fought against Turkey which was under the Ottoman Empire in
order to gain more land. Russia wanted to help Serbia and Bulgaria, because they wanted to be able
to use the Mediterranean Sea to get to Black Sea (Crimean War blocked the Mediterranean Sea from Rus
sia). Although Russia tried to support Serbia and Bulgaria, Austria did not allow them to, because t
hey did not want Serbia to gain land and become powerful. Similar to the Franco-Prussian War, in 191
3, after Turkey was defeated, the countries argued on who controlled the land. Bulgaria attacked Ser
bia and Greece, which started the second Balkan War. This time, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, and Romania
fought against Bulgaria. Soon, Bulgaria was defeated, and most of its land was taken away. The treat
y of Bucha was made between the countries. The problems in the Balkans were difficult for the Great
Powers to solve, because Serbia just wanted to expand its land. They wanted to keep on increasing it
s size, and become more powerful, and control other lands. Although the Austrians could no longer co
ntrol Serbia. -- How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war? On June 28, 1914, assassi
nation took place in Sarajevo, a Bosnian city. Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir throne of Austri
a-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. This was planned in order
to "prepare for the Slavic revolution", but eventually became one of the causes of WWI. Austria use
d the assassination to attack Serbia. In order to do this, they asked for the support of Germany. Al
though the German leaders were aware of the domino effect of attacking Serbia, they supported Austri
a. Since Germany and Austria wanted a quick attack on Serbia, so that other countries would not get
involved, an ultimatum was sent. When the ultimatum was sent to Serbia in July 23,1914, which demand
ed Serbia to abolish all 'anti-Austrian activities', and allow Austria to investigate the assassinat
ion of Francis Ferdinand. Serbia accepted to the ultimatum, but did not allow Austria to investigate
the murder. This caused Austria to declare war on Serbia on July 28. When Austria attacked Serbia,
as the German leaders had anticipated, Russia prepared to attack Austria. Germany warned Russia to s
top the preparation, but because Russia did not listen, Germany attacked Russia on August 1. Two day
s later, Germany also declared war against France which was Russia's ally. Germany planned to invade
France through Belgium, but unfortunately Belgium refused this. On August 3, Germany invaded Belgiu
m. The British then became involved in the war, for they had promised Belgium could be neutral, and
not get involved in wars. Also, the British had to join in the war because if they didn't, Germany w
ould control the continent of Europe. In less than six weeks, the domino effect had caused Serbia, R
ussia, France, Belgium and Britain to fight against Germany and Austria-Hungary. The assassination o
f Ferdinand was not the only cause of WWI, but it allowed the European countries to have a reason in
starting a conflict. From Austria's simple plan of a quick attack on Serbia, the domino effect had
caused other countries to get involved, building the attack to the first World War. It was not until
1918, when the WWI finally showed its end. --What caused the First World War? The nationalism of ea
ch country, competitions in the military and imperialism, and the alliance system gradually built th
e tension of the world war. The assassination of Ferdinand was what allowed a conflict to break out,
which was developed in to WWI by the domino effect. alliance alliance system make more likely less
likely alliance system between european countries divided continent into rival groups germany gained
control over region alsace lorraine prize wining franco prussian otto bismarck german chancellor kn
ew that france would regain land getting help from other countries order prevent this made alliances
with other european countries order isolate france three emperor league made which between germany
austria hungary russia triple then formed which included germany italy austria hungary this promised
that members would help each other them were attacked reinsurance treaty made with russia because r
ussia austria hungary were potential powers this allowed both stay neutral having everything went we
ll until german kaiser named william came throne took away bismarck political power abandoned with s
ince thought that needed also because william wanted have better relationships have more reliable al
ly triple broken bismarck expected france started looking allies order regain region alsace lorraine
after being defeated franco prussian french learned they were powerless they needed help make reven
ge after william abandoned treaty soon russian although britain been refusing make alliances europea
n because they afraid become powerful enemy decided cooperate their held improved relationship betwe
en britain although britain enemies competing land western asia both common future enemy decided sig
n agreement fight together developed friendship known triple entente military pact prevent from rega
ining region alsace lorraine entente friendship partners system only more likely clearly rival sides
also alliances domino effect chain reactions country attacked members involved well making conflict
superior colonial problems create tensions great powers although tied competitions gaining control
over colonies africa military development also know race stop since leader military organization cop
ied universal conscription large reserves detailed planning prussian many years worked increasing th
eir armaments troops though have worry about their number weapons since armies very large already co
untry developed armies weapons same armies doubled size navies naval forces greatly expanded happene
d imperialism increased rivalry such great needed gain foreign markets sources materials competed ec
onomic expansion africa italy late entering race colonies desperate catch imperialism colonial rival
ries increased jealousy mistrust among first morocco crisis second morocco crisis almost into these
crises stronger bond worsened relationships rival sides colonial problems even developed tension pro
blems balkans difficult great powers solve balkans controlled three ottoman empire hungarian empire
russian empire after serbia balkan states gained independence except bosnia herzegovina slav nationa
lists serbia aimed become powerful take control over states though belief slavism wanted them very p
owerful could protect them feared expansion serbia became knew would broken first balkan held greece
bulgaria montenegro fought against turkey which under ottoman gain land wanted bulgaria able medite
rranean black crimean blocked mediterranean from tried support bulgaria allow want gain become simil
ar franco turkey defeated argued controlled attacked greece started second balkan time turkey greece
romania fought against soon defeated most taken away treaty bucha balkans difficult solve just expa
nd keep increasing size lands austrians could longer assassination franz ferdinand lead june assassi
nation took place sarajevo bosnian city archduke francis ferdinand heir throne assassinated serbian
nationalist named gavrilo princip planned prepare slavic revolution eventually became causes used as
sassination attack asked support german leaders aware domino effect attacking supported quick attack
involved ultimatum sent when ultimatum sent july demanded abolish anti austrian activities allow in
vestigate francis ferdinand accepted ultimatum allow investigate murder caused declare july when lea
ders anticipated prepared attack warned stop preparation listen august days later declared against a
lly planned invade through belgium unfortunately belgium refused august invaded belgium british then
became involved promised could neutral wars british join didn continent europe less than weeks domi
no effect caused fight only cause allowed reason starting conflict simple plan quick caused building
first world until when finally showed what world nationalism each country competitions imperialism
gradually built tension world what allowed conflict breakEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termp
apers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research,
book research, study help, download essay, download term papers