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All the countries of Europe built up their armies and navies.   In 1914, their armed forces stood like this:

•   Germany: 2,200,000 soldiers, 97 warships

•   Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28 warships.

•   Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warships

•   France: 1,125,000 soldiers, 62 warships

•   Russia: 1,200,000 soldiers, 30 warships

•   Great Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185 warships

As one country increased its armies, so all the others felt obliged to increase their armed forces to keep the ‘balance of power’. -Johndclare, date N/A

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“The accelerating arms race is transforming the armed
peace into a crushing burden that weighs on all nations
and, if prolonged, will lead to the very cataclysm it seeks
to avert.” -Tsar Nicholas , 1899

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The German answer to all our talk about the limitation of armaments is: Germany shall increase to the utmost of her power...

I have lived among Germans, but with the best will in the world I can see no solution to the present collision of ideals but war. -JA Cranmb, 1913

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“Germany is a young and growing empire. her
world-wide trade is rapidly growing. Germany
must have a powerful fleet to protect that trade
and her interests in even the most distant seas.”
- Kaiser Wilhelm II, interview with the Daily
Telegraph, 1908

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"The countries of Europe thought that the alliance system would act as a deterrent to war; in fact it tied the countries together so that, when one country went to war, the others felt themselves obliged to follow." -Johndclare, date N/A

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“All treaties between great states cease to be binding when they come in conflict with the struggle for existence.” -Bismark, N/A

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The sun never sets on the British empire

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The sun never sets on the British empire

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by 19th century, british empire was largest. It was a quater of the global land.

In the 1870s Britain was described as the 'workshop of the world' as they supplied manufactured articles across the globe.

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"prying the various powers into predictable paths." -J Bowyer Bell (historian), date N/A

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1881-1914

In 1884, Germany acquired Togoland, the Cameroons and South-West Africa.

6 years later - sizable swathe of east africa fell under german control.

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"His Majesty’s Government cannot for a moment entertain the [German] Chancellor’s proposal that they should bind themselves to neutrality on such terms … Such a proposal is unacceptable, for France could be so crushed as to lose her position as a Great Power, and become subordinate to German policy.” -Sir Edward Greay, date N/A

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1760-1850

create huge demand for new supplies and markets to sell their manufactured goods.

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“Despite not having the fleet we should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It is now my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession.” – Wilhelm II, 1901

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following the Napoleonic wars, the leading european powers from the time devised a system called the balance of power, with the intention of maintaning peace

In 1871, several small countries united to form Germany following the franco-prussion war.

Peace terms following franco-prussion war saw germany gain previous french territory, Alasce and Lorraine

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"It is now or never. Deal with the Serbs. The Tsar is unlikely to intervene. If he does, Germany will stand at Austria's side." -German Kaiser, 1914 (to Austrian ambassador)

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From 1871-1914, there was a significant increase in the spending of the military.

Germany 340% increase

Russia 240% increase

Italy 175% increase

Great Britain 170% increase

Austria-Hungary 150% increase

France 140% increase

By 1914, Germany had the most powerful army in world.

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Because of the altered state of affairs in the Ottoman Empire ... I am forced to announce the annexation of Bosnia.

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In the summer of 1914, Austria sent 70,000 troops on military manoeuvres in Bosnia to try to scare the Serbian government.

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"The white man's burden" -Rudyard Kipling, 1899

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"Wherever the Empire has extended its borders... misery and oppression... replaced by peace, justice" -Lord Curzon, 1907

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Entente Cordiale: Britain + France, 1904

Anglo-Russian Alliance: Britain + Russia, 1907

Franco-Russian Alliance: France + Russia,1907

Triple Alliance: Germany + Austria-Hungary + Italy (later changed sides)

Supported by: Turkey (Ottoman empire), Bulgaria.

Triple Entente: France + England + Russia

Supported by: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States (later in the war)

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"Of the twelve members of the Conference, the only once to support Germany was her ally Austria-Hungary. The other leading Powers - Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain, and the U.S.A. - all were pro-French, and the other members followed this lead." -S Reed Brett, 1967

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"The superior races have rights over the inferior races... the superior races have a right because they have a duty... to civilise the inferior races" - Jules Ferry - a french statesman and republican, 1885

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"the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race" - cecil rhodes owner of the British South Africa Company.

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If this war is not fought with the greatest brutality against the bands both in the East and in the Balkans then in the foreseeable future the strength at our disposal will not be sufficient to be able to master this plague.

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if 2 countries are at war, all of the other allied countries will get involved too.

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the balance of power disrupted

the arms race/naval race-dreadnoughts, direct competition leads to tension and distrust, ultimately causing war

increased military spending

prep for war

Morocco-the Panther

Conscription-compulsory enlistment

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"Cape to Cairo Railway" -Cecil Rhodes, 1874