Causes of tension leading up to world war 1

-Early 19th century, 5 great powers (Britian, France, Austria, Russia and Prussia).

- 1871 Austria became Austria-Hungary, german speaking states joined to form Germany.

-Germany and Austria-Hungary formed strong friendship called Dual Alliance signed 1879.

-1890 New kaiser William 11, behavouir suggested wished for a war.

-France & Russia feared Dual Alliance, 1892-1894 Franco-Russian Alliance.

-Britain tried to ally with Germany who were not intrested, formed friendship with Franmce called 'Entente' Cordiale'.

-1907 Triple Entente formed when Britian befriended Russia.

-By 1907 5 great powers split into 2 groups, any minor war would cause all 5 to become involved.

-1800 much of South Eastern part of Europe belonged to Turkish Empire.

-By 1900 most of area broken away, new independant states emerged.

-Area called Bosnia still belonged to Turkey.

-The people who lived in Bosnia and Serbia (an independant country) were South Slavs.

-South Slav nationalists wanted Bosnia to break free from Turkey and join Serbia in a new South Slav state.

-1908 Austria-Hungary grabbed Bosnia, caused great upset.

-Meant nationalists had to fight Austria-Hungary not Turkey.

-Industry progressed rapidly: new weapons introduced, better warships, bigger and better guns.

-Each country feared other would have better weapons.

-Rush to improve better armanents (known as arms race).

-In particulkar, rivalry between Germany and Britian to build a powerful, modern navy.

-Britian was always safe due to being surrounded by ocean and having the best navy kept them safe. (Germany would be serious threat to Britian if they had a better navy.)

-Important feature in late 19th century.

-This is the building up of great empires as Europe's major powers divided up amongst themselves the less developed parts of the world.

-Rilvary between great powers as they strived to increase the size of their empires.

-Germany in bad position.

-Main ally Austria-Hungary didn't industrialise, may prove an uneffective ally.

-Germany was right between 2 main enemies, might have to fight on 2 fronts.

-France to the west, Russia in the east.

-Germany's army was thought to be the best in Europe, Germany feared when Russia industrialised they would be become to much to handle.

-Germans solution to problems.

-To avoid a 2 front war, Germany would throw their entire army at France and hope for a quick victory.

-Germany would avoid the guarded Franco-German border and go through Belgium to attack northern France.

-It would take Russia's army many weeks to be ready to fight.

-Germany would have to defeat France before moving the army to the east (To fight Russia).

-Speed was important for it to work, meaning Germany wouldn't have time to see if peace could be saved (they would attack first).