Objective The Alliance System: A'Search fpr Security To understand the need for and complexity of the pre-world War I aliiance system Notes to the Teacher Basing his policies on the historic concept of thebalance of power. Bismarck sought protection for his new Gennan Empire through a series of alliances that were designed to insure the status quo by engineering the pennanent isolation of France. However. the system was flawed in several respects: first. it temporartly brought togetherincompatible states: second. it was based on Bismarck's personal ability to control the delicate balance: and third. in time it only encouraged other nations to seek alliances to maintain their own integrity against the alliance whose major purpose was preservation of the Gennan Empire. In 1890. Kaiser Wilhelm II. pursuing a more aggressive foreign policy. al~ ienated the RussIans and dismissed Bismarck. In so domg. he dramatically altered the nature of the alliance system. In the end. new alliances accelerated the progress toward the Great War instead of maintaining peace. In this lesson. students identify for homework ten steps in the construction of the great prewar alliance system. In class they do a short reading to interpret contrasting goals of Bismarck and Wilhelm II. To conclude the lesson" they complete a visual demonstrating the ramifications ofwilhelm's dismissal of Bismarck for the course of international relations in the next generation.
Advanced Placement European History II Handout 8 (page 1) Name ~_-------------------- Date ~--------------------- t, ~,:,. The Alliance System: A Search for Security Part A. For homework. identify and tell the significance of each of the fc;>liowing teiti1s. J' Treaty of Frankfurt. 1871: League of Three Emperors. 1873: Secret Austro-Gerrnan Alliance. 1879: Alliance ofthree Emperors. 1881: Triple Alliance. 1882: Reinsurance Treaty. 1887: Refusal of Reinsurance Treaty. 1890: Russo-French rapprochement. 1894: Entente Cordiale. 1904: Anglo-French Entente. 1907: COPYRiGHT. The Center for Learning. U5ed with permission. Not ror resale. 41
Advanced Placement European Histoxy II Handout 8 (page 2) Name, ~ ~--------~---- Date ~------------------ Part B. Read the following short biographies ofbismarck and Wilhelm II and answer the questions at the end. Otto uon Bismarck (1815-1898) Otto von Bismarck created and molded the Gennan Empire. He was a powerfully built Prusslan Junker who was sophisticated. Intellectual. and sensitive to the pointofhysterta; but hewas also a q,espairing conservative who had no fajth in the future. and like Metternich saw the new movements of llberausm and democracy as evu. He had a singular goal: the unification of Germany. This unity was realized in such a way as to make Prussia supreme in Germany. the King supreme in Prussia. and Bismarck essentially supreme over the King. Understanding the art ofthe possible. he waged a sedes ofwars that were calculated to forge the new nation. and then he developed a system ofalliances to secure the status quo and preserve his creation. His system of alliances preserved peace. but it also created the imbalance and tension that was in large part responsible for World War I. As a Junker he understood absolute obedience to his sovereign and was schooled in a toughness ofimind that allowed him to batter down any poutician or theory that dared to cross him. Thus he crushed any moves toward a more democratic government. As a sensitive intellectual he was determined to stay In power to insure the continuation of his treasured German Empire. In 1890 in confrontation with a new Ruler. Bismarckwas dismissed from his position as Imperial Chancellor. The machlnexy that he had introduced to continue a world with himselfat the helm. now fell Into more unrellable hands. And thus a British politician could say of him: ~He made Germany great and Germans small. ~ Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) Wilhelm became German Kaiser (Emperor) and King ofprussia in 1888 and reigned untjl his fall at the end ofworld War I in 1918. He was a megalomaniac whose madcap personality also fit the expressions of intense German nationalism that antedated the Great War. German nationalism needed a figure of heroic proportions who would lead the new country- to deeds ofromanuc gloxy. WJlhelm fit the bill with his grandiose belief in his own importance. his love of uniforms. and his intense restlessness. Famillar problems led him to an endless desire to best his English relatives (through his mother he was the grandson ofqueen Victoria) and find a place in the sun [or the German Empire. The imperial government forged by Bismarck had placed supreme executive and militaxy power IKommando Gewalt) in the hands of the Kaise~; and once Bismarck was gone. the Ruler could in fact exercise these unrestrained. As he himselfsaid. As for having to sink my Ideas and feelings at the bidding of the people that is a thing unheard of in Prussian histoxy or the traditions of my House. What the Gennan Emperor. King ofprussia thinks right and best for his people he does." Determined to show imperial might. he pursued a course of Weltpolitik" (world politics) that had no real goals beyond "glory." In so doing. he created numerous moments of international tension. which could be summed up by the comment of the British pol1tician. Earl Grey: The German Emperor is Uke a battleship with steam up and screws going. 1::)ut with no rudder. and he will run into something someday and cause a catastrophe.' e COPYRIGHT. The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale. 42
Advanced Placement European History II Handout 8 (page 3) Name ~-------------------- Date ~--------------------- 1. What were Bismarck's goals? 2. What were the major goals of Wilhelm II in leading the Gennan nation? 3. How did the dismissal of Bismarcl~ change the fortunes of Europe? 4. What became the new line-up of European nations after the dismissal of Bismarck? 5. What were obvious strengths and weaknesses of each grouping of nations? 6.. Why did the new balance bring together such incompatible partners? ~ COPYRIGHT. The Center for Learning. Used With permission. Not for resale. 43 )
Advanced Placement European History II Name, i- ~_ Handout 8 (page 4) Date -r ~~= Part C. Complete the visual below according to these directions: a. Create a title for the visual. b. Devise cartoons, diagrams, or piclures that will accurately convey differences before and after the event in the central cartoon. c. Summarize your visual by writing at the bottom the ramifications ofthe events portrayed for the security of Europe. 1870-1914. Fig. 8.1. Crane Brinton. John S, Christopher. and Robert Lee Wolff. A History o!civilization. 1815 to the Present, 4th ed. (Englewood Cliffs. N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1971).826. Summary:. e COPYRIGHT. The Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale. 44