Imperialism

The policy of extending the rule or 

authority of an empire ornation over 

foreign countries, or of 

acquiring and holdingcolonies 

and dependencies.

Militarism

Domination by the military in the formulation of policies and ideals on a political level. A policy of maintaining a strong military organization in an

aggressive preparedness for war.

Nationalism

Devotion and loyalty to one's own 

nation; patriotism

Splendid Isolation

The policy of Splendid Isolation was characterised by a reluctance to enter into permanent European alliances or commitments with the other Great Powers and by an increase in the importance given to British colonies, protectorates and dependencies overseas.

System of Alliances

An Alliance System was a group of nations and/or people that worked together to achieve a certain goal. In WW1, an Alliance System was a group of nations and/or people that worked together to attack an enemy nation.

The Three Emperors League & Dual Alliance (1873)

Dual Alliance - This alliance was basically a military alliance between Germany and Austria. If either country was attacked, they would help each other.

Three Emperors League- This was a treaty with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia to aid in each others’ wars, but Russia renounced it 1879, leaving only two other countries left. This treaty got Germany to fight the World War I in the first place.

The Triple Alliance (1881)

The Triple Alliance was the military alliance between Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy that lasted from 1882 until the start of World War I in 1914. Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any two other great powers, or for Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. In a supplementary declaration, Italy specified that its undertakings could not be regarded as being directed against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Shortly after renewing the Alliance in June 1902, Italy secretly extended a similar guarantee to France

Secret France-Italian Alliance 

Italy was allies with Austria-Hungary and Germany from before; however, it avoided getting involved with the war. Soon Italy decides to offer help only during defensive wars. They argued that if Italy had to come during an offensive war it wouldn't offer help. Later Italy decides to become allies with the siding Allies, leaving its two former allies. Italy changing allies had impacted Italy a lot, because it would have to go against Germany and Austria-Hungary. 

Secret Franco-Italian Alliance (cont.)

The truth is that Italy saw the alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary meaningless, which led Italy to be secret allies with France. When Germany declared war on France Italy remained neutral till 1915, the year Italy finally entered war as an ally of France, Britain, and Russia. These secret alliances impacted the war by enabling switch of allies and shocking the former allies.

The Reinsurance Treaty (1887)

(June 18, 1887), a secret agreement between Germany and Russia arranged by the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck after the German-Austrian-Russian Three Emperors’ League collapsed in 1887 because of competition between Austria-Hungary and Russia for spheres of influence in the Balkans. The treaty provided that each party would remain neutral if the other became involved in a war with a third great power and that this would not apply if Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked Austria. Bismarck showed the Russian ambassador the text of the German-Austrian alliance of 1879 to drive home the last point. 

The Reinsurance Treaty (cont.)

Germany paid for Russian friendship by agreeing to the Russiansphere of influence in Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia (now part of southern Bulgaria) and by agreeing to support Russian action to keep theBlack Sea as its own preserve. When the treaty was not renewed in 1890, a Franco-Russian alliance rapidly began to take shape.

Franco-Russian Military Convention (1892)

Not published until 1918, the Franco-Russian Military Convention of 18 august 1892 drew France and Russia closer together, and together with Britain, ultimately formed the Triple Entente.

British-Japanese Military Alliance (1902)

Alliance that bound Britain and Japan to assist one another in safeguarding their respective interests in China and Korea. Directed against Russian expansionism in the Far East, it was a cornerstone of British and Japanese policy in Asia until after World War I.

Entente Cordiale (1904)

a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Beyond the immediate concerns of colonial expansion addressed by the agreement, the signing of the Entente cordiale marked the end of almost a millennium of intermittent conflict between the two nations and their predecessor states, and the formalisation of the peaceful co-existence that had existed since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The Entente cordiale, along with the Anglo-Russian Entente and the Franco-Russian Alliance, later became part of the Triple Entente among the UK, France, and Russia.

Anglo-Russian Entente (1907)

 (1907) pact in which Britain and Russia settled their colonial disputes in Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. It delineated spheres of influence in Persia, stipulated that neither country would interfere in Tibet’s internal affairs, and recognized Britain’s influence over Afghanistan. The agreement led to the formation of the Triple Entente.

Anglo-French Naval Convention (1912)

Promised British protection of France's coastline from German naval attack, and French defense of the Suez Canal.

Franco-Russian Military Convention (cont.)

The Franco-Russian Military Convention was signed two years after the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty had been allowed by Russia to lapse.  Increasingly Russia's future alliance lay with France and Britain, in opposition to Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (who ultimately formed theCentral Powers).In short, should France or Russia be attacked by one of the Triple Alliance signatories - or

even should a Triple Alliance power mobilize against either, the other power would provide military assistance.