The First World War As The Result Of The Alliance System

The First World War As The Result Of The Alliance System

The alliance system played a key role in starting the First World War.

The alliances increased tension, they restricted states’ actions

because they were binding and most importantly, they involved more

countries into the war; they increased the scale of the war. These are

the reasons why the alliances are a key factor in causing the war.

However, the alliances themselves didn’t cause the war; we must also

consider the roles of the other factors, i.e. Germany, Balkans,

economic and domestic problems and nationalism/aggressive policies.

In the years leading up to the war, many alliances were made. Firstly,

Austria and Germany formed the Dual Alliance in 1879; they promised

each other neutrality, it was also an anti-Russian alliance. The

alliance suggests that they were anticipating future problems,

possibly with Russia. In 1882, the Dual Alliance became the Triple

Alliance after Italy joined; the alliance became anti-French.

France and Russia formed the Franco-Russian alliance in 1891, which

marked the end of German direction of the affairs of Europe. Their

alliance was initially formed from financial ties in 1888 which became

a formal alliance in 1893. Their alliance was military and

anti-German; they promised to help each other if the were attacked by

Germany. Russia benefited from this alliance because it was able to

industrialise as a result of French loans.

In 1902, Britain and Japan formed the Anglo-Japanese alliance. This

alliance was not an alliance for Germany to be worried about because

Britain's intentions were for it to be against Russian expansion in

the Far East. Russia was Britain's colonial rival over India, Persia

and Afghanistan; they also threatened Britain's unofficial empire in

China

The Entente Cordiale was formed in 1904 between Britain and France; it

was a colonial alliance to settle disagreements; it improves relations

but it has no military obligations. Their original agreements were

colonial over their rivalry in Africa. However, the alliance only

became anti-German as a result of German aggression; even after