Political Science

Two Opposing Coalitions

Allied Powers

The Allied Powers consisted of:

France

United Kingdom

Russia

Japan

Italy

United States of America

Central Powers

The Central Powers included:

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire

Bulgaria

Germany's New Global Ambitions

The unification of Germany in 1871, under Otto von Bismarck's1.

Expansionist Strategy: In 1890, Germany's new monarch, Wilhelm II, launched a foreign policy aimed at transforming

his nation into a global power.

2.

Threatening the Status Quo: The other European powers viewed Germany's growing strength and ambitions as a threat,

destabilizing the international situation.

3.

Uneasy Tensions: The clash of Germany's expansionist goals with the interests of established powers like Britain,

France, and Russia created an atmosphere of increasing instability and mistrust.

4.

Militarism and the

Armament Race

1

1870-1914

Military spending increases by an average of 300% across

European nations.

2

Late 19th Century

Introduction of conscription and development of new military

technologies such as machine guns and tanks.

3

1900

Britain establishes the largest and strongest navy in the world.

4

Early 20th Century

Germany begins to challenge British naval supremacy, leading

to increased tensions.

The Naval Arms Race

1

1906: HMS Dreadnought

Britain launches the HMS Dreadnought, a new class of heavily

armored battleship that sets a new standard for modern naval

warfare.

2

1908: German Response

Germany responds by launching its own dreadnought

battleship, escalating the naval arms race.

3

Ongoing Competition

The naval competition between Britain and Germany influences

other European states, leading to a broader arms race.

Impact of Militarism

Atmosphere of Fear

The race for armaments filled the atmosphere with fear, apprehension,

and mutual hatred among European nations.

Militaristic Mindset

People became convinced that international problems could only be

solved through militarism.

Hostile Camps

Militarism and the arms race divided the big countries of Europe into

two hostile and fully equipped camps, setting the stage for conflict.

Alliance Systems and

Diplomatic Treaties

1

1882: Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy form the Triple Alliance.

2

1904: Entente Cordiale

Britain and France sign the Entente Cordiale, settling imperial

rivalries.

3

1907: Triple Entente

France, Britain, and Russia form the Triple Entente.

Consequences of Alliance

Systems

Campism

The alliance system created a form of "campism" where every member

was forced to take part in activities that might not be directly

advantageous but were necessary to support their allies.

Entanglement in Regional Conflicts

For example, Germany had no direct interest in the Balkans but had to

take action in support of Austria-Hungary. Similarly, France had to

support Russia's Balkan policy to maintain their alliance.

Escalation of Conflicts

These diplomatic alliances made it more likely that a local conflict could

escalate into a wider war, involving multiple major powers.