Causes of WWI: Moroccan Crises, Alliance System, and Militarism

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering the Moroccan Crises, Bismarck's Alliance System, foreign policy shifts like Splendid Isolation, and European Militarism leading up to World War I.

Tangier Speech (March 31, 1905)

A public speech made by Kaiser Wilhelm II in Tangier, Morocco, supporting Moroccan independence and the Sultan's authority, which served as a direct challenge to France.

Algeciras Conference (1906)

A meeting of 13 countries held in Algeciras, Spain to resolve the dispute between Germany and France over Morocco, resulting in France retaining control of Morocco's police and banking system.

2nd Moroccan Crisis (1911)

Also known as the Agadir Crisis, a conflict triggered when French troops entered Fez to protect Europeans and restore order, leading Germany to claim France was breaking the 1906 Algeciras agreement.

SMS Panther

The German gunboat sent to Agadir, Morocco on July 1, 1911, to pressure France into offering territorial compensation (such as land in Africa) in exchange for accepting French control over Morocco.

Otto von Bismarck

The German Chancellor who initiated the Alliance System after German Unification in 1871 to maintain peace, isolate France, recover Alsace-Lorraine, and avoid a two-front war for Germany.

Dual Alliance (1879)

A treaty between Germany and Austria-Hungary stipulating that if Russia attacked either nation, the other would offer assistance.

Triple Alliance (1882)

An alliance formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy to stop Italy from joining France and prevent France from attacking Germany from the south.

Reinsurance Treaty (1887)

A secret agreement signed between Germany and Russia in which both promised to stay neutral if one was attacked, designed by Bismarck to keep Russia friendly and prevent an alliance with France.

Splendid Isolation

Britain's traditional foreign policy of avoiding permanent alliances and staying out of European politics as long as her interests were not threatened, which ended prior to 1914 due to German naval and colonial rivalry.

Entente Cordiale (1904)

An agreement between Britain and France that settled their long-standing colonial disputes, specifically regarding control in Egypt and Morocco.

Anglo-Russian Entente (1907)

An agreement signed between Russia and Britain that settled their existing colonial disputes in Asia.

Triple Entente (1907)

An informal grouping of Britain, France, and Russia to balance German power, which divided Europe into two hostile camps ready to defend their respective allies.

Alliance System Escalation Cartoon

A visual representation of how the alliance system created a chain reaction leading to WWI: Austria attacks Serbia -> Russia helps Serbia -> Germany helps Austria -> France helps Russia -> Britain helps France.

Militarism

The policy where European nations built up large armies, navies, and weapon stockpiles based on the belief that national safety, respect, and strength depended on military power.

Naval Race (Britain vs Germany)

The intense naval arms race before WWI driven by Kaiser Wilhelm II's ambition for Germany to become a world power, summarized by his belief that 'Our future lies on the water' and Germany should 'rule the waves'.