The alliance system of world war one

The complexity of the reasons for the world war is more than just a mere list of causes. Scholars indicate that there is a chain of events that contributed to the fighting between nations. Nonetheless, the most outstanding cause of World War I was the alliances formed among the six countries. The forthcoming discussion will entail a description of the extent to which the alliances contributed to the war. By 1914, the political climate in Europe was such that its six major powers were divided into two alliances. Though in 1839, the Treaty of London officially recognized the formation of a new nation6. The countries that were officially recognized by the newly independent kingdom were Netherlands, Russia, the German Confederation, France, Austria, and Great Britain7.

Furthermore, it was Britain that insisted on maintaining a sense of neutrality. In 1879 a dual alliance was established. Austria-Hungary and Germany signed a dual alliance on 7th October in the year of 18798. Another component of the agreement stated that if a Russian intervention was to happen in the Dardanelles or Bosphorous then it is an expectation that Germany would declare herself neutral13. Germany was adamant to sign the renewed contract after it was established that the previous treaty would stir discomfort by both the Ottoman and British Empires. Another alliance that was established was the Franco – Russia alliance of 1894. Russia was in a vulnerable position because of the failure to renew her treaty with Germany and the triple alliance14. On the other hand, France was in isolation in Europe since it faced defeat during the yearlong Franco Prussian war that started in 1870.

This treaty was also in an attempt to avoid war. Some of the prominent issues that arose were inclusive of the differences within the African continent over French control of Morocco as well as the British control of Egypt. With this agreement, almost one thousand years of conflict between the two countries came to an end. The latest treaty was the Triple Entente of 1907. This treaty was signed in August of 1907 and it included Russia and Britain21. France was a great threat to Germany because it had a structure that could impact across the frontier and attack so far up in Germany that they would have no choice but to surrender. Russia’s plan was simply pumping a considerable amount of money ranging in the millions25.