• Some time before 1914, Europe became destabilized
  • Before, believed they would create a prosperous civilization
• After 1870, European nations were fearful of others in Europe
• Germany formed Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy
  • Additionally signed reinsurance treaty with Russia
• German treaty with Russia lapsed after Bismarck’s retirement
  • In 1894, Franco-Russia treaty was signed
  • Contrasting French and Russian ideologies were disregarded
• Europe was divided into German-Austrian-Italian and Franco-Russian
• Naval competition between Germany and Great Britain arose
  • By 1912, German navy was significant force
  • Both countries had navy to protect colonies and secure trade
• In 1902, British allied with Japan against Russia
• Ententes were had between Britain, France, Russia
  • Older Triple Alliance faced new, looser Triple Entente
• The Balkans faced disruption as independent groups emerged
• In 1914, Bosnian revolutionary assasinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand
  • Francis Ferdinand would have become emperor of Austria
  • Austrian government was determined to stop South Slav separation
• Serbs rejected Austrian ultimatum to preserve sovereignty
  • In response, Austria declared war on Serbia
  • Russia prepared to defend Serbia, deployed troops
  • Germany demanded end to mobilization, declared war on Russia
  • Germany additionally declared war on France due to their allyship with Russia
  • Finally, Britain declared war on Germany as allies with France
• Most backward nations drew more advanced nations into war