The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance in 1882. This alliance was primarily defensive, designed to protect the status quo in Europe.
The Dual Alliance: France and Russia formed a defensive alliance in 1894. This alliance was largely a response to the growing power of Germany.
The Triple Entente: France and Britain signed the Entente Cordiale in 1904, easing tensions between the two colonial rivals. Britain and Russia reached an agreement in 1907, addressing their differences over Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. Together, Britain, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente, an informal alliance.
The Spark and the Chain Reaction: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 provided Austria-Hungary with a pretext to attack Serbia. Russia, as Serbia’s ally, mobilized its troops in support of Serbia. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia and subsequently on France. To protect its ally France, Britain declared war on Germany.
The war placed enormous strain on Russian society and the economy. Mass protests and strikes in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a provisional government. However, it struggled to address the demands of the people and continued to participate in World War I, leading to further instability. In the October Revolution of 1917 the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in a coup d'état. They promised “peace, land, and bread,” appealing to the war-weary soldiers, the land-hungry peasants, and the suffering workers. The Bolsheviks established a socialist government, leading to the creation of the Soviet state.