Causes of WWIEntangling Alliances

Otto von Bismarck

started the trend of creating alliances

allied with Austria

then turned on Austria through an alliance with France and Italy

then turned on France so he could have a common enemy (to unite Germany)

The Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance was signed in 1881 between Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy

They all agreed to help each other if France attacked any of them

They also agreed to provide military assistance if one of them was in a battle with two or more enemies

Italy made a secret treaty with France after joining the Triple Alliance

The Triple Entente

The Triple Entente was created as a reaction to the Triple Alliance.

It included Britain, France, and Russia

France and Russia made an alliance in 1894

Britain joined in 1904 with the help of Sir Edwin Grey

1. Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914.

2. Russia

Russia has an alliance with Serbia (because they are both Slavic)

So, Russia declares a mobilization of forces against Austria-Hungary

3. Germany

Germany was an ally of Austria-Hungary

Germany saw Russia’s mobilization as an act of war

So, Germany declares war on Russia on August 1st, 1914.

4. France

France had an alliance with Russia

France declared war on Germany in defense of Russia

So, France was at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary

5. Belgium

Germany plows through Belgium to get to France on August 4th 1914

Belgium becomes a victim of war despite being neutral

6. Britain

Britain had a loose alliance with France, and felt obligated to get involved.

Britain also had a strong (75 year old) alliance with Belgium

So, Britain goes to war in defense of Belgium

When Britain went to war, all of her colonies (India, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and South Africa) were enlisted into the war as well

7. Japan

Japan had an alliance with Britain

So, Japan declared war on Germany on August 23rd, 1914

Austria-Hungaria responded by declaring war on Japan

8. Italy

Italy had alliances with both Germany and Austria-Hungary but they used loopholes to avoid joining the war

The loophole was that Italy only had to defend Germany and Austria-Hungary if the war was defensive

Italy finally joined the war in 1915, but joined the Allied side despite her former alliances.

9. The United States

President Woodrow Wilson declared a state of national isolation

This isolation lasted until April 6th, 1917

The U.S. entered the war because German submarines were attacking U.S. trading ships