5 Major Treaties & Alliances in the Build Up to World War One

Summary

The script explores the complex web of alliances and treaties leading up to World War I. It highlights the oversimplification of the war as merely a conflict between two major alliances— the Triple Entente and the Dual Alliance— and examines the intricate political relationships in Europe from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The breakdown of treaties, such as Germany’s disregard for Belgium's neutrality and the failed reinsurance treaty with Russia, along with the entanglements between major powers, played a crucial role in transforming localized tensions into a global war.

Takeaways

• ⚔️ The First World War involved complex alliances beyond the Triple Entente and Dual Alliance, including numerous treaties and agreements.
• 🏰 The Treaty of London in 1839 guaranteed Belgium's sovereignty, with Britain later using its violation by Germany as a pretext for war.
• 🤝 The Dual Alliance of 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary pledged mutual support against Russian aggression.
• 🔄 Italy's membership in the Triple Alliance in 1882 was conditional and later reneged upon the outbreak of WWI.
• 🤫 The Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 was a secret agreement between Germany and Russia, which expired in 1890, leaving Russia vulnerable.
• 🚧 The Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 was formed to counter the Triple Alliance and pledged mutual support in case of aggression.
• 🌍 The Entente Cordiale of 1904 between Britain and France resolved colonial disputes and marked a significant shift in European diplomacy.
• 🔗 The Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 ended the rivalry between Britain and Russia in Central Asia, further aligning against the Triple Alliance.
• 🇧🇪 Germany's invasion of Belgium in 1914, violating the Treaty of London, prompted Britain to enter the war.
• 🔄 The complex web of alliances and treaties ultimately led to a cascade of events that drew many nations into the First World War.

Q & A

What were the two major alliances during the period leading up to World War I?

The two major alliances leading up to World War I were the Triple Alliance, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, and the Dual Alliance, linking Germany and Austria-Hungary.

How did the Treaty of London in 1839 affect the neutrality of Belgium?

The Treaty of London in 1839 guaranteed the sovereignty and neutrality of Belgium, which had broken away from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its signatories included Great Britain, Austria, France, the German Confederation, Russia, and the Netherlands.

What was the significance of the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary signed in 1879?

The Dual Alliance of 1879 pledged mutual support between Germany and Austria-Hungary in the event one was invaded by Russia, and guaranteed neutrality if one was invaded by another major European power.

Why did Italy join the Dual Alliance to form the Triple Alliance in 1882?

Italy joined the Dual Alliance in 1882 to form the Triple Alliance, but it later renounced its commitment when war broke out in 1914.

What was the purpose of the Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia in 1887?

The Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 was a secret agreement intended to prevent Russia from forming an alliance with France. It guaranteed neutrality if one country was attacked by a third power, unless Russia attacked Austria-Hungary or Germany attacked France.

How did the relationship between France and Russia evolve into the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894?

France and Russia formed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 after France began investing in Russian infrastructure from 1888. The alliance stipulated mutual support if one of them was attacked by a member of the Triple Alliance.

What were the key outcomes of the Entente Cordiale between France and Britain in 1904?

The Entente Cordiale of 1904 resolved many long-standing issues, particularly over colonial interests in Africa, marking the end of nearly a millennium of intermittent conflict between France and Britain.

What was the nature of the agreement between Britain and Russia in 1907 known as the Triple Entente?

The 1907 agreement between Britain and Russia was not a three-way agreement like the Triple Alliance. It was specifically to stop their rivalry in Central Asia and did not guarantee Russia's support in the event of a European war.

How did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand contribute to the start of World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the July Crisis, which led to a series of diplomatic and military maneuvers that ultimately resulted in the outbreak of World War I.

Why did Britain declare war on Germany in August 1914?

Britain declared war on Germany after Germany executed the Schlieffen Plan and violated the neutrality of Belgium by crossing its border, which was a violation of the Treaty of London that Britain had pledged to uphold.

Outlines

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⚔️ Alliances Leading to World War I

The First World War is commonly seen as a conflict between two major alliances: the Triple Entente (France, Britain, and Russia) and the Dual Alliance (Germany and Austria-Hungary). However, this view oversimplifies the web of alliances and treaties formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1887 and 1914, Europe transitioned from a balanced system to one polarized by two hostile alliance networks. By 1914, a regional crisis, such as the Austro-Serbian conflict, could escalate into a full-scale war. This transformation was partly due to agreements like the 1839 Treaty of London, which guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality—a factor that later influenced Britain’s decision to enter the war when Germany violated this neutrality.

Keywords

💡Triple Entente

The Triple Entente was an alliance between France, Britain, and Russia formed in the early 20th century. It opposed the Triple Alliance and played a crucial role in the dynamics leading to World War I. In the video, it represents one of the two major opposing alliances, illustrating the polarized nature of European powers before the war.

💡Dual Alliance

The Dual Alliance was a treaty between Germany and Austria-Hungary signed in 1879. It pledged mutual support in case of a Russian attack and guaranteed neutrality if either was attacked by another power. This alliance expanded to include Italy, forming the Triple Alliance, and highlights the complex network of treaties that contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

💡Treaty of London (1839)

The Treaty of London guaranteed Belgium's sovereignty and neutrality. Its signatories included major European powers like Great Britain, Austria, and France. In 1914, Britain's declaration of war on Germany was partly justified by Germany's violation of this treaty by invading Belgium, demonstrating how earlier agreements influenced World War I.

💡Reinsurance Treaty

The Reinsurance Treaty was a secret agreement between Germany and Russia signed in 1887. It aimed to prevent a Franco-Russian alliance and promised neutrality unless Germany attacked France or Russia attacked Austria-Hungary. Its non-renewal in 1890 left Russia vulnerable and contributed to the formation of the Franco-Russian Alliance, highlighting the shifting alliances before the war.

💡Franco-Russian Alliance

The Franco-Russian Alliance was formed in 1894 between France and Russia as a counterbalance to the Triple Alliance. It stipulated mutual military support if either nation was attacked by a member of the Triple Alliance. This alliance was pivotal in the lead-up to World War I, showing how European powers sought to secure their positions through treaties.

💡Entente Cordiale

The Entente Cordiale was an agreement between France and Britain in 1904, resolving colonial disputes and marking the end of long-standing conflicts. It was part of the diplomatic efforts that aligned these powers against the Triple Alliance, illustrating the role of diplomatic negotiations in shaping pre-war alliances.

💡Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's military strategy to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium, before turning east to fight Russia. Its execution in 1914 violated Belgium's neutrality, leading to Britain's declaration of war on Germany. This plan exemplifies the aggressive military strategies that escalated the conflict into a full-scale war.

💡Balkans

The Balkans were a region of strategic and political interest for both Austria-Hungary and Russia, leading to tensions that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Balkans sparked the July Crisis, which ultimately led to the war, highlighting the region's significance in the conflict.

💡July Crisis

The July Crisis was the series of events following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which led to the outbreak of World War I. This crisis involved a complex web of alliances and escalations, demonstrating how a regional conflict could trigger a larger war due to the interconnected nature of European treaties and agreements.

💡Anglo-Japanese Alliance

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was a treaty between Britain and Japan signed in 1902, primarily aimed at countering Russian expansion in East Asia. It played a role in aligning Britain and its allies against the Triple Alliance, showing how global geopolitics and regional alliances influenced European diplomatic strategies before World War I.

Highlights

The First World War is often seen as a conflict between the Triple Entente (France, Britain, and Russia) and the Dual Alliance (Germany and Austria-Hungary), but this oversimplifies the complex alliances of the period.

Between 1887 and 1914, Europe shifted from a balance of powers to polarized alliance networks, making a continental war inevitable by 1914.

The Treaty of London (1839) guaranteed Belgium's neutrality, which Britain invoked when Germany violated it in 1914.

The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary (1879) was designed to defend against Russian aggression, with Italy later joining to form the Triple Alliance in 1882.

Germany also signed a secret Reinsurance Treaty with Russia in 1887 to prevent Russian alignment with France, but this was not renewed in 1890, leaving Russia vulnerable.

France, isolated after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), formed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 to counter the Triple Alliance.

The Entente Cordiale (1904) between Britain and France resolved colonial disputes in Africa, marking the end of centuries of intermittent conflict between the two nations.

Britain and Russia signed a treaty in 1907 to end their rivalry in Central Asia, particularly after Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905).

Despite these alliances, there was no formal 'Triple Entente' like the Triple Alliance; Britain, France, and Russia had separate agreements.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 did not automatically trigger British or Russian involvement due to the complexities of their alliances.

Germany’s execution of the Schlieffen Plan, which involved violating Belgium's neutrality, was the key event that led Britain to declare war on Germany in August 1914.

The Reinsurance Treaty expired in 1890 under Bismarck's successor, leaving Germany’s diplomatic position weakened and prompting new European alignments.

Tensions between Austria-Hungary and Russia over the Balkans played a significant role in pushing Europe towards war, exacerbating the already fragile alliance system.

The Triple Alliance's failure to maintain its coherence was exemplified by Italy reneging on its commitments and choosing neutrality when the war broke out.

The complex interplay of treaties and alliances, rather than a straightforward clash between two blocks, was a key factor in escalating a regional conflict into a world war.

Transcripts

the first world war is often interpreted

as fought between two major alliances

the triple on tont between France

Britain and Russia and the Dual Alliance

linking Germany and Austria Hungary but

this oversimplifies the alliances

treaties and agreements that developed

throughout the late 19th and early 20th

centuries and Drew the great Powers

along with numerous other countries into

war between 1887 and 1914 Europe was

transformed from a system in which well

balanced forces maintained a delicate

equilibrium to One Polarized by two

hostile Alliance networks in 1887 it was

inconceivable that a crisis in ostros

Serbian relations could have led to a

continental War but by 1914 that was

exactly what

happened the Treaty of London created in

1839 guaranteed the sovereignty of

Belgium which had broken away from the

United Kingdom of the Netherlands in

1830 its signatories were Great Britain

Austria France the German Confederation

Russia and the Netherlands a guarantee

of Belgium's neutrality was also

brokered by Britain while Germany later

disregarded the treaty Britain went to

war with the claim that they were

upholding Belgium's

neutrality 40 years later on October the

7th 1879 the Dual Alliance between

Germany and Austria Hungary was signed

in Vienna each pledged the other support

in the event one was invaded by Russia

and guaranted neutrality should one be

invaded by another major European power

Italy joined to form the Triple Alliance

in 1882 but renaged on its commitment

once war broke out in

1914 Germany also signed the reinsurance

treaty with Russia in June

1887 tensions between Russia and Austria

Hungary over competing interests in the

Balkans compelled Germany's ironon

chancellor Otto von bismar to move to

prevent Russia forming an alliance with

France

this secret treaty guaranteed that each

country would remain neutral should the

other be attacked by a third power

unless Russia were to attack Austria

Hungary or Germany to attack France

Berlin also promised to support Russian

objectives in the Turkish

Straits the treaty expired in 1890 when

bismar successor leoon Capri feared it

would provoke the Ottoman and British

Empires the Triple Alliance and the

failure to renew a treaty with Germany

had left Russia vulnerable while France

had been isolated in Europe since its

defeat in the 1870 to 1871 Franco

Prussian war France began to invest in

Russian infrastructure from 1888 and the

two formed the franor Russian Alliance

on January 4th

1894 it was to remain in place for as

long as the Triple Alliance existed and

stipulated that if one of the countries

of the Triple Alliance attacked France

or Russia its Ally would attack the

aggressor in question and that if a

Triple Alliance country mobilized its

Army France and Russia would

mobilize the next major agreement in

Europe came about with The anant Cordial

in April

1904 having been involved in three

rounds of talks with Germany between

1898 and 1901 Britain decided not to

join the Triple Alliance when the Russo

Japanese war was about to erupt France

and Britain found themselves being

dragged into the conflict on the side of

their respective

allies France was Allied with Russia

while Britain had recently signed the

anglo-japanese

alliance in order to avoid war the sides

negotiated a treaty that settled many

long-standing issues particularly their

differences in Africa over British

control of Egypt and French control of

Morocco the agreement marked the end of

nearly a thousand years of intermittent

conflict between the two

countries the final substantial

agreement came in 1907 with the

so-called triple onon between Britain

France and Russia

thereby firming their stance against the

Triple Alliance but in reality there was

no triple anant the 1907 treaty was

specifically between Britain and Russia

to stop their rivalry in Central Asia

after Russia's defeat to Japan in 1905

it seemed that Russia no longer posed a

threat to Britain's Indian interests and

there was no three-way agreement as

there was with the Triple

Alliance even after the assassination of

France Ferdinand in the July crisis

neither of Britain's agreements with

France saw Russia guaranteed that she

would Ally with the countries in the

event of a European

War however when Germany executed the

schen plan on August the 3rd 1914 and

crossed the Belgian border thus

violating the Treaty of London Britain

declared war on Germany