Document Analysis

1. Document Analysis I hope Europe will gradually come to realize the fundamental principle of my policy: leadership in the peaceful sense – a sort of Napoleonic supremacy…I am of the opinion that it is already a success that I, having come to govern at such an early age, stand at the head of German armed might yet have left my sword in its scabbard and have given up Bismarck’s policy of externally causing disruption to replace it with a peaceful foreign situation such as we have not known for many years. The Kaiser to Botho Graf zuEulenburg, July 1892. Eulenburg was a close friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II and served as his Minister of the Interior until 1882. Q: According to the Kaiser, what does he hope to achieve in foreign policy?

2. Long-term causes of World War I Mr. Lineburg 2017-18

3. Snapshot c.1900 • French hostility toward Germany leads to European nervousness • Germany's first ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm I, wanted strong alliances to protect from attacks

4. Bismarck's Web of Alliances System to deter European wars

6. The 3 Emperors League (1873) • Dreikaiserbund • Germany/Austria-Hungary/Russia • Isolates France • Neutralize Balkan conflict

7. Dual Alliance (1879) • When Austria-Hungary & Russia conflict over Balkans the Dreikaiserbund collapses • Bismarck makes separate treaty with Austrians. • Defensive move: Support one another ifone another if Russia attacked;benevolent neutralityif another country attacked one of them.

8. Three Emperor's Alliance (renewed) • 1881 • Russia felt isolated (effect of Treaty of Berlin) so a revised Dreikaiserbund was created. • Assisted in trying to resolve Austro- Russian disputes in Balkans

9. Triple Alliance (1882) • Germany/Austria-Hungary/Italy • For mutual defense

10. Reinsurance Treaty (1887) • Response to collapse of Dreikeiserbund • Secret nonaggression pact between Russia and Germany • Falls apart due to Kaiser Wilhelm

11. Wilhelm II • Loved everything military • Autocratic, volatile, unpredictable • Opponent of socialism • Built up German military

12. The New Course and Weltpolitik

13. The New Course • Wilhelm II assumes throne in 1888 • Bismarck replaced as Chancellor by Leo Von Caprivi in 1890 • New course of foreign policy moving away from old alliances made by Bismarck • Reinsurance Treaty allowed to lapse -Led to Franco-Russian alliance (1884) • Mutual assistance if attacked by Germany

14. The New Course • Guaranteed mobilization if any member of the Triple Alliance mobilized. • Mutual support in Imperial disputes = anti-British • Resulting in: • Bismarck's alliance system destroyed • France no longer isolated • Germany could not face war on two fronts

15. Weltpolitik • German policy looked beyond Europe after 1890 • Looked to be a colonial power with overseas Empire • Impacted Germany's relationship with other countries

16. Primary Source Analysis Each member take a copy of the document located on your group’s table. Read the document and write a one paragraph summary that highlights the significant points. Share our your summaries in group. Present findings to class

17. Homework: Basic research on the following questions (use legitimate sources): • Which European powers had the biggest overseas empires? • Where did Germany have colonial possessions? • Compare the size of Germany’s colonial possessions to those of other European powers. • Why were imperial rivalries a potential cause of tension between the European powers in 1900?

18. Imperialism • Colonial rivalry (1880-1905) • Until the 20th century, economically driven • After, acquisition occurred due to a mixture of – social Darwinism & nationalistic competition • Led to bad blood w/Britain (ex. Jameson Raid)

19. Jameson Raid • Failed attempt by Britain to incite a rising against the Boar Republic in South Africa. • Led by Dr. Jameson - British S.A. Company administrator • Led to the resignation of Cecil Rhodes – governor of Cape colony

20. Kruger Telegram • Germany sent the Boer leader President Paul Kruger a congratulatory telegram for the Boer resistance • This caused great offense in Britain

21. Kruger Telegram • Berlin, January 3, 1896[sent on January 3, 11:20 a.m.] I express my sincere congratulations that you and your people, without appealing to friendly powers for help, by dint of your own vigor, have been able to restore the peace against the armed hordes that invaded your country as disturbers of the peace, and to preserve the independence of the country against outside attacks. • Wilhelm I.R. Source: Johannes Lepsius, et al., eds., Die GroßePolitikdereuropäischenKabinette 1871-1914 [The Great Power Politics of the European Governments, 1871-1914]. 40 Volumes. Berlin, 1922-1927. Vol. 11, pp. 31-32. • Original German source also reprinted in Rüdigervom Bruch and BjörnHofmeister, eds., Kaiserreich und ErsterWeltkrieg 1871-1918 [Wilhelmine Germany and the First World War, 1871-1918]. Deutsche Geschichte in Quellen und Darstellung, edited by Rainer A. Müller, vol. 8. Stuttgart: P. Reclam, 2000, p. 271. • Translation: Thomas Dunlap

22. Kruger Telegram • Why do you think that the telegram caused so much fury in Britain?

23. Emergence of the Alliance System

24. British-German Arms Race • In 1897, von Tirpitz appointed Admiral of the German Navy • Von Tirpitz held belief that Germany should have a strong Navy • Naval laws lead to the building of 17 ships

25. "Splendid Isolation" • “It is the duty of the Government of this country, placed as it is with regard to geographical position, to keep itself upon terms of goodwill with all surrounding nations, but not to entangle itself with any single or monopolising alliance with any one of them; above all to endeavour not to interfere needlessly and vexatiously with the internal affairs of any foreign country.” • Lord Derby, July 1866, House of Lords

26. "Splendid Isolation" • Britain responds by seeking alliances • 1902 – allies with Japan for strategic positioning • Entered into Entente, or, "understanding" with France thus improving Anglo-French relations • In 1907 Britain/Russia/France form the Triple Entente.

27. Triple Entente

29. H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906)

30. The Naval Race • 1906 – the British 'Dreadnought' - powerful battleship and yet negated superiority. • British "Naval scare" led to construction of eight more ordered in 1909. • British propaganda portrayed Germany as the new enemy. • Norman Lowe- Naval tensions a big factor for English willingness to enter World War I

31. The Naval Race • Open CPEW to page 17 and study the table of statistics. • Answer the 2 questions below. • In 1 paragraph, answer the following question: • To what extent would you agree that Germany’s position in 1900 was less secure than it had been in 1890? Explain. • Share with your group

32. The Balkans

34. Three Empires had an interest: • Turkey (Ottoman Empire) • Austria-Hungary • Russia

35. Turkey • Struggling to hold onto their dwindling territories • An empire in decline

36. Austria-Hungary • By 1900, losing their hold on their diverse empire • Serbs, Croats, Slovenes wanted their independence • Looked to Serbia for support and wanted to form a Slav Kingdom

37. Russia • Had their own ambitions in the Balkans • Nationalist sympathy with their Slavic brethren • Strategically important: straits of Constantinople

38. Straits of Constantinople

39. Tension in the Balkans • June 1903 – pro-Austrian king Alexander of Serbia was murdered • Replaced with King Peter, a friend of Russia • Tariff war of 1905-6 • Serbs turn to France

40. Tension in the Balkans Baron von Aehrenthal • Austrian foreign minister • Orchestrated annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina • Offered access to Strait of Dardanelles for Russia • Leads to future Russian mobilization Alexander Izvolsky