HIS102Y1 Lecture : impact of german unification and beginning of WW1.docx
Document Summary
Unification of germany changed the balance of power in europe. War of 1870, france was unable to recover, leaders wanted to change france. Otto von bismarck wanted to build a security system, built a network of alliances, safety was the cornerstone of his thinking. German ambassadors in moscow wanted a nazi/soviet alliance. 3 emperors league- alexander ii, wilhelm i, franz joseph i, met to talk about international relations. Congress of berlin disbanded 3 emperors 3, and san stefano treaty declared void, humiliation for russia. Russians hated british, were angry at bismarck and were now using jews as scapegoat. Also began growing economically and began implementing tariffs to protect their growing industry. German implemented their own tariffs in response to this and began refusing russian money at the german stock exchange and banned the import of russian grain and cattle. Bismarck did not like the anti-russian sentiment of the german people.
