Key Facts

By 1914 Europe was divided into two armed camps

In the Triple Alliance there were - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

In the Triple Entente there were - Britain, France and Russia

These two groups had quarrels about size of navies, the Balkans and the lost territories of Alsace and Lorraine

Italy was an uncertain member of the Triple Alliance

German policy had persuaded Britain to make up differences with France and Russia

By 1914 the Triple Entente had been backed up by secret naval and army agreements.

Read pages 9 to 12 and page 18 and answer these questions-

The Triple Alliance

Why did Bismarck want to keep France without allies?

When was the Triple Alliance signed and by whom?

What was the Re-Insurance Treaty?

Why was it not renewed?

The Franco - Russian Alliance

What brought France and Russia together?

When did this happen?

What were the terms of the agreement?

How did Russia gain from this agreement?

What do you think France was trying to achieve?

Britain and The Triple Entente

What made Britain think that she needed an ally?

Why did Britain and Germany not become allies?

What brought Britain and France together?

What was the name of this agreement and when was it signed?

What made Russia and Britain come together?

How had the international situation changed between 1898 and 1906? (p13)

Note
The 1904 Entente Cordiale was an agreement not to quarrel. It was not an alliance in the way that the Triple Alliance was.

It was agreed that -
France would recognise Britain's special role in Egypt
Britain would recognise France's special role in Morocco
the French would be given fishing rights off the Canadian coastline.

In 1905 Germany tried to break up the Entente when kaiser Wilhelm II visited Morocco. Britain and France stuck together and in 1909 the British and French made a secret military agreement. This meant that in the event of war between Germany and France a British force (BEF) would be sent to France to help the French.

Britain was now in alliance with the French but it was only known to the King, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the War Secretary and the leading generals. The public and Parliament knew nothing about it.

In 1911 there was another crisis over Morocco when kaiser Wilhelm II sent a gunboat to the Moroccan port of Agadir. Again he was trying to break up the Entente and again he failed. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, D. Lloyd George made a speech accepting that war might be necessary and the Germans backed down.

In 1912 a secret Franco-British Naval Agreement was signed whereby the British agreed that the Royal Navy should protect the Channel coast of France in the event of a German attack. Again Parliament and public were told nothing.
So by 1914 the situation was -

The Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy pledged to help each other in the event of war

The Triple Entente - Britain, France and Russia had publicly agreed to stop quarrelling with each other but secretly they had agreed to help each other in the event of war

Document Exercise

How useful is source J (page 12) in explaining developments in Anglo-German relations?

What point of view is being expressed in source F on page 10?

To what extent does source L reflect developments in diplomatic relations between 1898 and 1909?

Two Armed Camps -Help Sheet

Read pages 9 to 12 and page 18 and answer these questions-

Which countries were in the Triple Alliance?

How did they promise to help each other?

When did France and Russia sign their alliance?

How did the French help the Russians?

When was the Entente Cordiale signed?

Who signed the Entente Cordiale?

Which country joined it in 1907?

What SECRET AGREEMENTS did Britain have with France? (see notes not the textbook)