Tag Archives: Alliances
The Alliance System in Europe 1871-1890
This revision podcast focuses on Bismarck and the International System (sometimes known as the Alliance System) he created from 1871 until his resignation in 1890. Approaching the topic through a consideration of Bismarck’s foreign policy aims following the unification of Germany, the podcast explains how he attempted to isolate France, befriend Britain, and create a series of alliances with Russia and Austria-Hungary.
The formation of the Dual Alliance by Germany and Austria-Hungary – introductory video
Keen to consolidate the newly-united Germany, Otto von Bismarck turned to diplomacy in an attempt to ensure the status quo in Europe.
The creation of the Triple Alliance: an overview
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the Triple Alliance.
The Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia: a brief overview
Germany and Russia signed the secret Reinsurance Treaty that ensured they would each remain neutral if the other went to war with a third European power.
The breakdown of the International System from 1890
In this revision podcast we see how the ascension of Wilhelm II to the throne of Germany in 1890 led to the breakdown of the Alliance System created by Bismarck. It explores how a number of factors led to increased European tensions through reference to key issues including Weltpolitik, the arms race, and nationalism. These factors are assessed in order to explain the changing relationships between the European powers during the period.
Causes of the First World War – the ‘Alliance System’
An overview of the Alliance System before the outbreak of the First World War including archive footage from the time.
Awkward dinner party: WW1 alliances seating plan
This activity works well as a plenary or as an energising starter to the next lesson. Having studied the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, students are faced with the problem of seating the six countries at a dinner table. They need to keep disagreements to a minimum by positioning the biggest rivals away from each other.
Students enjoy the debate involved in this activity, and often need to re-draw their plans as the discussion progresses. Having decided the seating plan, they write the name of each country on the appropriate chair and give a short explanation of their placement in the blank box.
The activity can be easily adapted for other situations – I know of colleagues using seating plans to get students to show the differing internal alliances in the early years of Stalin’s Soviet Union, and a Philosophy & Ethics teacher using it for arguments about the existence of God.
Explanation of the Entente Cordiale
A brief explanation of the terms and effects of the signing of the Entente Cordiale on 8th April 1904.
Causes of the First World War – The July Crisis
Beginning with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, this video explores the 6-week period known as the July Crisis. It explains the concept of Germany’s ‘Blank Cheque’ and how the alliance system caused the nations of Europe to become embroiled in what was now a ‘world’ war. Reference is made to the Schlieffen Plan and how this led to Britain’s declaration of war.
