Venkateshwara International Relations Open University [1871-1939] International Relations International Relations [1871-1939]

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Venkateshwara International Relations Open University [1871-1939] International Relations International Relations [1871-1939] 7 MM VENKATESHWARA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OPEN UNIVERSITY [1871-1939] www.vou.ac.in INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS RELATIONS INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS [1871-1939] [M.A. HISTORY] [ 1871 - 1939 ] VENKATESHWARA OPEN UNIVERSITYwww.vou.ac.in INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (1871-1939) MA [History] BOARD OF STUDIES Prof Lalit Kumar Sagar Vice Chancellor Dr. S. Raman Iyer Director Directorate of Distance Education SUBJECT EXPERT Dr. Pratyusha Dasgupta Assistant Professor Dr. Meenu Sharma Assistant Professor Sameer Assistant Professor CO-ORDINATOR Mr. Tauha Khan Registrar Author: Dr. Naveen Vashishta, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Government College, Israna (Panipat) Copyright © Author, 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this publication which is material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or transmitted or utilized or stored in any form or by any means now known or hereinafter invented, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the Publisher. Information contained in this book has been published by VIKAS® Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. and has been obtained by its Authors from sources believed to be reliable and are correct to the best of their knowledge. However, the Publisher and its Authors shall in no event be liable for any errors, omissions or damages arising out of use of this information and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular use. Vikas® is the registered trademark of Vikas® Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. VIKAS® PUBLISHING HOUSE PVT LTD E-28, Sector-8, Noida - 201301 (UP) Phone: 0120-4078900 Fax: 0120-4078999 Regd. Office: A-27, 2nd Floor, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, New Delhi 1100 44 Website: www.vikaspublishing.com Email: [email protected] SYLLABI-BOOK MAPPING TABLE International Relations (1871-1939) UNIT – I: Rival System of Alliance in Europe, Colonial and Naval Unit 1: European Alliances Rivalries of the European Power. and Rivalries (1871-1914) (Pages 3-31) UNIT – II Conflict of Nationalities: The Balkans, Austral-Russian and Unit 2: Conflict of Austro-Serbian Rivalries. Nationalities (1871-1914) (Pages 33-50) UNIT – III The First World War, The Paris Peace Settlement and its Unit 3: The First World War, Aftermath. The Paris Peace Settlement and its Aftermath (Pages 51-81) UNIT – IV The League of Nations and Collective Security; Breakdown of Unit 4: The League of Nations and Collective Security-Case Study: Manchurian Crisis and Ethiopian Collective Security Crisis. (Pages 83-109) UNIT – V Nazi Preparation for War; Violation of Versailles and Locarno; Unit 5: The Second World War and Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia; Russo-German Non- (Pages 111-142) aggression Pact, German Invasion of Poland, Outbreak of the Second World War. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 UNIT 1 EUROPEAN ALLIANCES AND RIVALRIES (1871-1914) 3-31 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Objectives 1.2 Rival System of Alliance in Europe 1.2.1 Driekaiserbund or Three Emperors League (1872) 1.2.2 Dual Alliance (1879) 1.2.3 Three Emperors’ Alliance (1881) 1.2.4 Triple Alliance (1882) 1.2.5 Reinsurance Treaty (1887) 1.2.6 Franco-Russian Alliance (1894) 1.2.7 Anglo-Japanese Convention (1902) 1.2.8 Anglo-French Entente or Entente Cordiale (1904) 1.2.9 Triple Entente (1907) 1.3 Colonial and Naval Rivalries of the European Powers 1.3.1 Rivalry between European Powers over Africa 1.3.2 Rivalry between European Powers over China 1.3.3 Rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans 1.3.4 Rivalry between England and Russia 1.3.5 Anglo-German Naval Rivalry 1.3.6 Theories of Imperialism 1.4 Summing Up 1.5 Key Terms 1.6 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 1.7 Questions and Exercises 1.8 References and Suggested Readings UNIT 2 CONFLICT OF NATIONALITIES (1871-1914) 33-50 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Objectives 2.2 European Interests in the Balkans (1871-1914) 2.2.1 Russian Interest 2.2.2 Austrian Interest 2.2.3 British Interests 2.2.4 French Interests 2.3 Rise of Nationalism in the Balkans (1871-1914) 2.3.1 Treaty of San Stefano March 1878 2.3.2 Congress of Berlin 2.3.3 Developments after the Treaty of Berlin 2.3.4 Young Turk Movement 2.3.5 Balkan Wars 2.4 Austro-Russian Rivalry 2.5 Austro-Serbian Rivalry 2.6 Summing Up 2.7 Key Terms 2.8 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 2.9 Questions and Exercises 2.10 References and Suggested Readings UNIT 3 THE FIRST WORLD WAR, THE PARIS PEACE SETTLEMENT AND ITS AFTERMATH 51-81 3.0 Introduction 3.1 Objectives 3.2 The First World War 3.2.1 Causes of the First World War 3.2.2 Course of the First World War 3.2.3 Consequences of the First World War 3.3 Paris Peace Settlement and its Aftermath 3.3.1 Founders of the Settlement 3.3.2 Treaty Signed with Germany: Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919) 3.3.3 Treaty Signed with Austria: Treaty of Saint Germain (10 September 1919) 3.3.4 Treaty Signed with Bulgaria: Treaty of Neuilly (27 November 1919) 3.3.5 Treaty Signed with Hungary: Treaty of Trianon (4 June 1920) 3.3.6 Treaty Signed with Constantinople Government: Treaty of Serves (10 August 1920) 3.3.7 Treaty signed with Kemalist Government: Treaty of Lausanne (24 July 1923) 3.3.8 Criticism of the Treaty of Versailles 3.4 Summing Up 3.5 Key Terms 3.6 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 3.7 Questions and Exercises 3.8 References and Suggested Readings UNIT 4 THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY 83-109 4.0 Introduction 4.1 Objectives 4.2 The League of Nations and the Mandate System 4.2.1 Structure of League of Nations 4.2.2 Functions of the League 4.2.3 Mandate System 4.2.4 Achievement of the League 4.2.5 Failure of the League of Nations 4.2.6 Demise and Legacy of the League of Nations 4.3 System of Collective Security under the League 4.3.1 Efforts Made to Strengthen the System of Collective Security 4.4 Breakdown of Collective Security 4.4.1 Causes of the Failure of the System of Collective Security 4.5 Summing Up 4.6 Key Terms 4.7 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 4.8 Questions and Exercises 4.9 References and Suggested Readings UNIT 5 THE SECOND WORLD WAR 111-142 5.0 Introduction 5.1 Objectives 5.2 Causes of the Second World War 5.2.1 Violation of Versailles and Locarno Treaties 5.2.2 Nazi Preparation for War 5.2.3 Stresa Front 5.2.4 Rome-Berlin Axis 5.2.5 The Spanish Civil War 5.2.6 Annexation of Austria 5.2.7 Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia 5.2.8 Russo-German Non-Aggression Pact 5.2.9 German Invasion of Poland: Outbreak of the Second World War 5.3 Course and Consequences of the Second World War 5.4 Historical Debate on the Second World War 5.5 Summing Up 5.6 Key Terms 5.7 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 5.8 Questions and Exercises 5.9 References and Suggested Readings INTRODUCTION Introduction The ideas of the enlightenment period pervaded throughout Europe in the 19th century. NOTES These culminated in the collapse of autocratic monarchies throughout the European continent as well as the formation of new nations in Western Europe. Along with these ideas of enlightenment, the concept of nationalism, as well as the logic of the industrial revolution, resulted in a great thirst among the European powers to gain more and more colonies to achieve Great Power status. It was this endeavour that governed international relations among the European powers in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. Such a framework of international relations resulted in the European continent witnessing many tragedies. The logic of the Industrial Revolution, as well as the expansionist policies of imperialist countries in the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century, culminated into the two most horrifying events in the history of humanity—the two world wars. How could such horrors have been allowed to occur? What part did Nationalism and Imperialism play in the perversion of enlightenment ideas? This book entitled ‘ International Relations, 1871 – 1939 ’ will try to answer such questions. The learning material in this book, International Relations (1871–1939) , has been presented in the self-learning format, wherein each unit begins with an Introduction to the topic followed by an outline of the Objectives . The detailed content is then presented in a simple, structured and easy-to-grasp style interspersed with ‘ Check Your Progress ’ questions to test the student’s understanding. At the end of each unit, a Summing Up and a list of Key Terms have been provided for recapitulation. Self Learning Material 1 European Alliances and UNIT 1 EUROPEAN ALLIANCES AND Rivalries (1871-1914) RIVALRIES (1871-1914) NOTES STRUCTURE 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Objectives 1.2 Rival System of Alliance in Europe 1.2.1 Driekaiserbund or Three Emperors League (1872) 1.2.2 Dual Alliance (1879) 1.2.3 Three Emperors’ Alliance (1881) 1.2.4 Triple Alliance (1882) 1.2.5 Reinsurance Treaty (1887) 1.2.6 Franco-Russian Alliance (1894) 1.2.7 Anglo-Japanese Convention (1902) 1.2.8 Anglo-French Entente or Entente Cordiale (1904) 1.2.9 Triple Entente (1907) 1.3 Colonial and Naval Rivalries of the European Powers 1.3.1 Rivalry between European Powers over Africa 1.3.2 Rivalry between European Powers over China 1.3.3 Rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans 1.3.4 Rivalry between England and Russia 1.3.5 Anglo-German Naval Rivalry 1.3.6 Theories of Imperialism 1.4 Summing Up 1.5 Key Terms 1.6 Answers to ‘Check Your Progress’ 1.7 Questions and Exercises 1.8 References and Suggested Readings 1.0 INTRODUCTION The period from 1871 to 1914 is characterized by historians as one of the most significant periods in modern European history.
Recommended publications
  • World War I Concept Learning Outline Objectives
    AP European History: Period 4.1 Teacher’s Edition World War I Concept Learning Outline Objectives I. Long-term causes of World War I 4.1.I.A INT-9 A. Rival alliances: Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente SP-6/17/18 1. 1871: The balance of power of Europe was upset by the decisive Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War and the creation of the German Empire. a. Bismarck thereafter feared French revenge and negotiated treaties to isolate France. b. Bismarck also feared Russia, especially after the Congress of Berlin in 1878 when Russia blamed Germany for not gaining territory in the Balkans. 2. In 1879, the Dual Alliance emerged: Germany and Austria a. Bismarck sought to thwart Russian expansion. b. The Dual Alliance was based on German support for Austria in its struggle with Russia over expansion in the Balkans. c. This became a major feature of European diplomacy until the end of World War I. 3. Triple Alliance, 1881: Italy joined Germany and Austria Italy sought support for its imperialistic ambitions in the Mediterranean and Africa. 4. Russian-German Reinsurance Treaty, 1887 a. It promised the neutrality of both Germany and Russia if either country went to war with another country. b. Kaiser Wilhelm II refused to renew the reinsurance treaty after removing Bismarck in 1890. This can be seen as a huge diplomatic blunder; Russia wanted to renew it but now had no assurances it was safe from a German invasion. France courted Russia; the two became allies. Germany, now out of necessity, developed closer ties to Austria.
    [Show full text]
  • The South Slav Policies of the Habsburg Monarchy
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School January 2012 Nationalitaetenrecht: The outhS Slav Policies of the Habsburg Monarchy Sean Krummerich University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, and the European History Commons Scholar Commons Citation Krummerich, Sean, "Nationalitaetenrecht: The outhS Slav Policies of the Habsburg Monarchy" (2012). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4111 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Nationalitätenrecht: The South Slav Policies of the Habsburg Monarchy by Sean Krummerich A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of History College of Arts & Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor, Graydon A. Tunstall, Ph.D. Kees Botterbloem, Ph.D. Giovanna Benadusi, Ph.D. Date of Approval: July 6, 2012 Keywords – Austria, Hungary, Serb, Croat, Slovene Copyright © 2012, Sean Krummerich Dedication For all that they have done to inspire me to new heights, I dedicate this work to my wife Amanda, and my son, John Michael. Acknowledgments This study would not have been possible without the guidance and support of a number of people. My thanks go to Graydon Tunstall and Kees Boterbloem, for their assistance in locating sources, and for their helpful feedback which served to strengthen this paper immensely.
    [Show full text]
  • RACIAL EQUALITY BILL: JAPANESE PROPOSAL at PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE: DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRES; and REASONS for REJECTION by Shizuka
    RACIAL EQUALITY BILL: JAPANESE PROPOSAL AT PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE: DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRES; AND REASONS FOR REJECTION By Shizuka Imamoto B.A. (Hiroshima Jogakuin University, Japan), Graduate Diploma in Language Teaching (University of Technology Sydney, Australia) A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts (Honours) at Macquarie University. Japanese Studies, Department of Asian Languages, Division of Humanities, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia. 2006 DECLARATION I declare that the present research work embodied in the thesis entitled, Racial Equality Bill: Japanese Proposal At Paris Peace Conference: Diplomatic Manoeuvres; And Reasons For Rejection was carried out by the author at Macquarie Japanese Studies Centre of Macquarie University of Sydney, Australia during the period February 2003 to February 2006. This work has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other university or institution. Any published and unpublished materials of other writers and researchers have been given full acknowledgement in the text. Shizuka Imamoto ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii SUMMARY ix DEDICATION x ACKNOWLEDGEMENT xi INTRODUCTION 1 1. Area Of Study 1 2. Theme, Principal Question, And Objective Of Research 5 3. Methodology For Research 5 4. Preview Of The Results Presented In The Thesis 6 End Notes 9 CHAPTER ONE ANGLO-JAPANESE RELATIONS AND WORLD WAR ONE 11 Section One: Anglo-Japanese Alliance 12 1. Role Of Favourable Public Opinion In Britain And Japan 13 2. Background Of Anglo-Japanese Alliance 15 3. Negotiations And Signing Of Anglo-Japanese Alliance 16 4. Second Anglo-Japanese Alliance 17 5. Third Anglo-Japanese Alliance 18 Section Two: Japan’s Involvement In World War One 19 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Activity 3 - World War I in Asia: the Siege of Tsingtao, 1914
    Activity 3 - World War I in Asia: The Siege of Tsingtao, 1914 In Asia, all the German colonies except for Tsingtao were under Australian or New Zealander control by mid-September 1914. The fortified city of Tsingtao, essential as it was for sustaining German naval operations in the Pacific, was better defended: 3,000 German marines stood against a small British force comprised of the 2nd South Wales Borderers and 36th Sikhs dispatched from Hong Kong and Tientsin. However, what Germany had failed to plan for was the Japanese empire, eager to cement its place as the rising Asian power in the shadow of declining Chinese dominance by scoring a decisive victory against the German colony. To this end, 57,000 Japanese troops landed outside the city throughout September 1914. British and Japanese troops landing at Tsingtao, September 24 1914 The German Empire had attained a 99-year lease on the city of Tsingtao (Qingdao) and the surrounding area of Kiaochow (Jiaozhou) from the Chinese government in 1898, which was at the time under extreme duress from the imperial powers following its defeat in the Sino-Japanese War. It was at this time that Britain also secured its 99-year lease on the area surrounding Hong Kong. In the first decade of the twentieth century, Germany fortified the area with a strong naval base and coaling station, and transformed the urban environment in Tsingtao into an analogue of a typically German town, including, naturally, a brewery - still in operation today. "Expensive and resplendent public buildings rose on these frontages. Gardens were laid out on the model of those in Berlin, and German officialdom took its leisure along an imitation Unter den Linden, or displayed itself in the novel tea-grounds.
    [Show full text]
  • Vladimir Paounovsky
    THE B ULGARIAN POLICY TTHE BB ULGARIAN PP OLICY ON THE BB ALKAN CCOUNTRIESAND NN ATIONAL MM INORITIES,, 1878-19121878-1912 Vladimir Paounovsky 1.IN THE NAME OF THE NATIONAL IDEAL The period in the history of the Balkan nations known as the “Eastern Crisis of 1875-1879” determined the international political development in the region during the period between the end of 19th century and the end of World War I (1918). That period was both a time of the consolidation of and opposition to Balkan nationalism with the aim of realizing, to a greater or lesser degree, separate national doctrines and ideals. Forced to maneuver in the labyrinth of contradictory interests of the Great Powers on the Balkan Peninsula, the battles among the Balkan countries for superiority of one over the others, led them either to Pyrrhic victories or defeats. This was particularly evident during the 1912-1913 Balkan Wars (The Balkan War and The Interallied War) and World War I, which was ignited by a spark from the Balkans. The San Stefano Peace Treaty of 3 March, 1878 put an end to the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). According to the treaty, an independent Bulgarian state was to be founded within the ethnographic borders defined during the Istanbul Conference of December 1876; that is, within the framework of the Bulgarian Exarchate. According to the treaty the only loss for Bulgaria was the ceding of North Dobroujda to Romania as compensa- tion for the return of Bessarabia to Russia. The Congress of Berlin (June 1878), however, re-consid- ered the Peace Treaty and replaced it with a new one in which San Stefano Bulgaria was parceled out; its greater part was put under Ottoman control again while Serbia was given the regions around Pirot and Vranya as a compensation for the occupation of Novi Pazar sancak (administrative district) by Austro-Hun- - 331 - VLADIMIR P AOUNOVSKY gary.
    [Show full text]
  • New Perspectives on the Eastern Question(S) in Late-Victorian Britain, Or How „The Eastern Question‟ Affected British Politics (1881-1901).1
    Stéphanie Prévost. New perspectives on the Eastern Question(s) New perspectives on the Eastern Question(s) in Late-Victorian Britain, Or How „the Eastern Question‟ Affected British Politics (1881-1901).1 Stéphanie Prévost, LARCA, Université Paris-Diderot Keywords: Eastern Question, Gladstonian Liberalism, social movements, Eastern Question historiography. Mots-clés : Question d‘Orient, libéralisme gladstonien, mouvements sociaux, historiographie. In 1921, in the preface to Edouard Driault‘s second edition of La Question d’Orient depuis ses origines jusqu’à la paix de Sèvres, a work originally published in 1898, French historian Gabriel Monod postulated that ―the Eastern Question was the key issue in European politics‖ (v). In his 1996 concise introductory The Eastern Question, 1774-1923, Alexander L. Macfie similarly stated that ―for more than a century and a half, from the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74 to the Treaty of Lausanne of 24 July 1923, the Eastern Question, the Question of what should become of the Ottoman Empire, then in decline, played a significant, and even at times a dominant, part in shaping the relations of the Great Powers‖ (1). Undoubtedly, the Eastern Question has always been deeply rooted in the intricacies of European diplomacy, more obviously so from the Crimean War onwards. After an almost three-year conflict (1853-6) first opposing Russia to the Ottoman Empire, then supported by France, Britain, Sardinia, Austria and Hungary, belligerents drafted peace conditions. The preamble to the 30 March, 1856 Treaty of Paris made the preservation of Ottoman territorial integrity and independence a sine qua non condition to any settlement – which was taken up in Article VII of the treaty as a collective guarantee.
    [Show full text]
  • The Forgotten Fronts the First World War Battlefield Guide: World War Battlefield First the the Forgotten Fronts Forgotten The
    Ed 1 Nov 2016 1 Nov Ed The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 2 The Forgotten Fronts The First Battlefield War World Guide: The Forgotten Fronts Creative Media Design ADR005472 Edition 1 November 2016 THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS | i The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 2 The British Army Campaign Guide to the Forgotten Fronts of the First World War 1st Edition November 2016 Acknowledgement The publisher wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following organisations in providing text, images, multimedia links and sketch maps for this volume: Defence Geographic Centre, Imperial War Museum, Army Historical Branch, Air Historical Branch, Army Records Society,National Portrait Gallery, Tank Museum, National Army Museum, Royal Green Jackets Museum,Shepard Trust, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Defence, Royal Artillery Historical Trust, National Archive, Canadian War Museum, National Archives of Canada, The Times, RAF Museum, Wikimedia Commons, USAF, US Library of Congress. The Cover Images Front Cover: (1) Wounded soldier of the 10th Battalion, Black Watch being carried out of a communication trench on the ‘Birdcage’ Line near Salonika, February 1916 © IWM; (2) The advance through Palestine and the Battle of Megiddo: A sergeant directs orders whilst standing on one of the wooden saddles of the Camel Transport Corps © IWM (3) Soldiers of the Royal Army Service Corps outside a Field Ambulance Station. © IWM Inside Front Cover: Helles Memorial, Gallipoli © Barbara Taylor Back Cover: ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Tower of London © Julia Gavin ii | THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS | iii ISBN: 978-1-874346-46-3 First published in November 2016 by Creative Media Designs, Army Headquarters, Andover.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Turks and Europe by Gaston Gaillard London: Thomas Murby & Co
    THE TURKS AND EUROPE BY GASTON GAILLARD LONDON: THOMAS MURBY & CO. 1 FLEET LANE, E.C. 1921 1 vi CONTENTS PAGES VI. THE TREATY WITH TURKEY: Mustafa Kemal’s Protest—Protests of Ahmed Riza and Galib Kemaly— Protest of the Indian Caliphate Delegation—Survey of the Treaty—The Turkish Press and the Treaty—Jafar Tayar at Adrianople—Operations of the Government Forces against the Nationalists—French Armistice in Cilicia—Mustafa Kemal’s Operations—Greek Operations in Asia Minor— The Ottoman Delegation’s Observations at the Peace Conference—The Allies’ Answer—Greek Operations in Thrace—The Ottoman Government decides to sign the Treaty—Italo-Greek Incident, and Protests of Armenia, Yugo-Slavia, and King Hussein—Signature of the Treaty – 169—271 VII. THE DISMEMBERMENT OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: 1. The Turco-Armenian Question - 274—304 2. The Pan-Turanian and Pan-Arabian Movements: Origin of Pan-Turanism—The Turks and the Arabs—The Hejaz—The Emir Feisal—The Question of Syria—French Operations in Syria— Restoration of Greater Lebanon—The Arabian World and the Caliphate—The Part played by Islam - 304—356 VIII. THE MOSLEMS OF THE FORMER RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND TURKEY: The Republic of Northern Caucasus—Georgia and Azerbaïjan—The Bolshevists in the Republics of Caucasus and of the Transcaspian Isthmus—Armenians and Moslems - 357—369 IX. TURKEY AND THE SLAVS: Slavs versus Turks—Constantinople and Russia - 370—408 2 THE TURKS AND EUROPE I THE TURKS The peoples who speak the various Turkish dialects and who bear the generic name of Turcomans, or Turco-Tatars, are distributed over huge territories occupying nearly half of Asia and an important part of Eastern Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Alliance System
    Alliance System Triple Alliance Triple Entente How did the nations of Europe find themselves in this situation? In order to answer this question you need to focus on the events that occurred in continental Europe following the end of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Germany’s role is very important. Historical Context – 1870’s Great Britain had adopted a policy of “Splendid Isolation” – which meant that it had chosen to stay out of the affairs of the nations of continental Europe as long as these nations did nothing to challenge the British status as the dominant global superpower. Traditional Order France – British Enemy #1 Germany – Viewed as friendly state Following the end of the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-71 German unification is complete. Kaiser Wilhelm the First makes the decision to establish Germany as the dominant power in Continental Europe. He will challenge France to do this but has no intentions of challenging Great Britain. Task is given to his most senior advisor – Otto Von Bismarck. Bismarck initiates an elaborate system of alliances aimed at isolating France within the confines of continental Europe. • Dual Alliance – 1879 ( Austria-Hungary ) • Triple Alliance – 1882 (adds Italy ) • Reinsurance Treaty with Russia - 1887 Dual Alliance / Triple Alliance / Reinsurance Treaty These alliances accomplish two things for Germany • Isolates France • Does this without angering Great Britain • Avoids imperialism • No naval challenge Turning Point - 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm 1 dies and is replaced by his “ambitious” son – Wilhelm II. Wilhelm II makes several mistakes Fires Bismarck Allows Reinsurance Treaty with Russia to lapse – causes Russia to turn to France.
    [Show full text]
  • The Alliance System Before 1900
    How and why did the Alliance System form? L/O – To understand the key features of the alliance system before 1914 Starter – How was the most powerful nation in Europe? Who was second? What is an Alliance? An alliance is an agreement between one or more states to work together. Alliances usually involve making promises to protect the other country against nations who are not in the alliance. These promises are usually made by the signing of treaties. Why were Alliances made? The aim of forming alliances was to achieve collective security – having alliances with other powerful countries deterred your enemies from attacking you. If a country started a war with one nation it would have to fight all its allies as well. Alliances were often made in reaction to national rivalries – when one country felt threatened by another, it often looked to secure friendships with other nations. By 1900, Europe was full of national rivalries. Why were alliances made? There were two main sources of national rivalries: The creation of Germany in 1871 out of the many smaller Germanic states had been opposed by France, resulting in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. The Germans invaded France and forced the French to sign a humiliating peace treaty. This meant that France and Germany hated each other. The Ottoman (Turkish) Empire in Eastern Europe was crumbling. Russia sought to take advantage of this to expand west into the Balkans. Austria-Hungary wanted to prevent Russian expansion. National Rivalries A dinner party The Rise of Germany • By 1900, the Great Powers in Europe were beginning to divide themselves into two separate groups.
    [Show full text]
  • The Centrality of Prestige in Russian and Austro-Hungarian Foreign Policy, 1904-1914 William Weston Nunn
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2009 Image Is Everything: The Centrality of Prestige in Russian and Austro-Hungarian Foreign Policy, 1904-1914 William Weston Nunn Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IMAGE IS EVERYTHING: THE CENTRALITY OF PRESTIGE IN RUSSIAN AND AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN FOREIGN POLICY, 1904-1914 By WILLIAM WESTON NUNN A Thesis submitted to the Department of History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2009 The members of the committee approve the thesis of Weston Nunn defended on July 22, 2009. __________________________________ Jonathan Grant Professor Directing Thesis __________________________________ Peter Garretson Committee Member __________________________________ Michael Creswell Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members. ii This thesis is an offering dedicated to the glory of God, the fountain from which flows all truth and knowledge. Sola Dei Gloria. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many important people who have assisted in the completion of this thesis. I first want to express my gratitude to the departments of History and Religion at Presbyterian College, specifically Drs. Richard Heiser and Roy Campbell, FSU alumni who were not only my teachers, but my advisors, Dr. Mike Nelson, Dr. Anita Gustafson, Dr. Bryan Ganaway, Dr. Craig Vondergeest, Dr. Bob Bryant, and Dr. Peter Hobbie, my teacher, confidant, and friend. Thank you all for your investments in me as a person and as a student.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Russian Policy in the Balkans, 1878-1914
    1 Russian Policy in the Balkans, 1878-1914 At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the Balkans were the most turbulent region in Europe. On the one hand were the Balkan peoples with their aims of creating their own national states with the broadest borders possible, and on the other, the ambitions of the Great Powers to gain spheres of influence in the European territories of the Ottoman Empire. This led to a continually strained and unstable situation. 1.1 Between the Two Wars: 1856-1877 The Crimean War proved to be the turning point in the relations between Russia and the Near East. After this first serious defeat of the Russian army in a war with the Ottoman Empire, Christians of the Near East and the Balkans looked more and more towards Europe. The image of Russia as the liberator of the Orthodox inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire faded and the authority of the Russian tsar was to a great extent lost. Russian diplomacy after 1856 focused totally on the restoration of Russia’s former authority. Of great significance in this process were the activities of Count N. P. Ignatiev, the ambassa- dor to Constantinople from 1864 to 1877.11 His idea of creating ‘Greater Bulgaria’, a large south-Slavonic state in the Balkans, as a base for Russian interests and further penetra- tion towards the Straits, received the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coincided with the intentions of Tsar Alexander II. In 1870, the Russian government declared that it would no longer comply with the restrictions of the Paris Treaty of 1856.
    [Show full text]