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THE ARMED PEACE IN EUROPE - Coggle Diagram
THE ARMED PEACE IN EUROPE
Between 1870 and 1914
There was peace but a lot of tension at the same time
countries were preparing for war by creating weapons
The importance of the German empire
After the German unification (1871) it became the most important power in Europe
economic development
military depelopment
Two phases of German foreign policy
The Bismarckian system
1871–1890
Wilhelm I maintained the balance of power between European countries
he used diplomacy
Otto von Bismarck established a system of alliances
with
Italy
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Russian Empire
with the objective of
maintaining Germany hegemony in Europe
preventing France from declaring war on Germany
in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) France had lost Alsace-Lorraine
During this time there was the arms race
Bismarck managed to avoid conflict in Europe
but, he had to strengthen the German army
other European countries to build up their armies too
The Bismarckian system
The second system
between 1879 and 1882
the Alliance of the three emperors was re-signed
1881
problems soon began to reappear between Austria and Russia
the Triple Alliance
1882
between
Austria-Hungary
Italy
Germany
the secret Double Alliance
1879
between
Germany
Austria-Hungary
The third system
the Triple Alliance was renewed
in 1887
between
Austria-Hungary
Italy
Germany
the Reinsurance Treaty
between
Germany
Russia
both countries promised to remain neutral if either went to war
The first system
the Three Emperors' League was signed
in 1872
by
Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary
Tsar Alexander II of Russia
Wilhelm I of Germany
it failed due to rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia
The expansionist foreign policy of Wilhelm II
1890–1914
He changed the system of alliances for an expansionist policy
he wanted to obtain a colonial empire that reflected Germany's growing economic power
Bismarck disagreed and resigned from his position
He didn't renew the Reinsurance Treaty
he didn't think that Russia would ally with France
the became allies because of France's economic investment in Russian industry
Triple Entente
between
Great Britain
Russia
France
to try to stop Germany's expansion
1907
