World War One

4. Alliances: Ethnic, Security, Secret, and Political Alliances “Steer clear of alliances with other nations.” George Washington “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Old proverbThis net of interlocking, secretive, fairly rigid alliances increased the tension and thesuspicion of the great powers. Historians Roswell Palmer and Joel Colton called thisconflict, “the most Olympian of statesmanship.”After Napoleon’s invasion (1814), everyone in Europe felt wary of another invading empire. Overlapping agreements fordefense created a complex system of international alliances.100 Years War (1337-1453, England vs. France); 7 Years War/ French & Indian War (1754-1763, Britain vs. France);Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815, all of Europe & Russia vs. France); Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871, France vs. Germany).Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was cousins with Czar Nicholas II of Russia, who was also the nephew of several monarchs inEurope (Greece, Denmark). The Tsar’s wife Alexandra and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany were all 1 st cousinsof King George V of Britain. The inter-relations were even more complicated than this but it gets tedious.Britain and France were NOT BFFs…they were wary of each other. Britain wanted to keep a balance ofpower in Europe, so that neither Germany nor France would become too powerful. Germany wanted Franceto be isolated without any friends. France needed an ally, and found Russia to balance the power. Austriafelt threatened from Russia, and supported Germany. The more each country prepared for war, the moreinsecure they each felt. This insecurity led each country to search for allies they could depend on. Thispattern will happen again in the Cold War (NATO and the Warsaw Pact).Great Britain enjoyed a “splendid isolation,” only coming out of hiding when she wanted to make a statement and then retreating tosilence again. Britain had been battered by the South African wars (The Boer Wars with the Dutch). Even though she won the war, shewas now in a naval race (and an industrial race) with Germany which was costing her a lot of money.1905, tensions between France and Germany (over Morocco) nearly erupted into war. Germany tried to drive a wedgebetween the Anglo-French Entente.Britain supported France. Germany’s actions actually strengthened the Allies friendship, and made the rest of Europesuspicious of German motives. Germany became dangerously isolated and victimized.7