answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The alliances in Europe were formed long before 1914. The motives were varied, but they were defensive in character and/or intended to preserve the balance of power - that is, to prevent any one European country achieving a position of overwhelming stength.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Having the support of an alliance while fighting against a "common enemy" was helpful. When Serbia assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914. Austria, as you might imagine, reacted negatively to this event, and eventually lashed out at Serbia.

Elsewhere in the world, Germany was feeling as though it was surrounded by England and France, whom it had negative history with. Germany felt that it was necessary for them to expand and develop their military defenses, because the British Empire had a very large military of its own. However, Britain reacted poorly to Germany's plans, not understand why they were doing anything like that, seeing as the had very few colonies to protect, unlike Britain who had many.

Russia defended Serbia from Austria-Hungary, and Germany and Austria-Hungary were already on friendly terms. France and Britain joined forces, since France was also disturbed by Germany's militarism. Italy joined with Germany.

The two sides became the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France and Russia [Later to include America: Canada was completely under Great Britain's control]).

Having an alliance system made it easier to cover more ground, and tensions were extremely high throughout Europe anyways, so it made sense to try and increase ones own power as much as possible in order to ensure their own victories.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

at the beginning of WWi, it was actually to prevent a war from starting.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Nations wanted to create alliances to keep peace in Europe. They also created alliances to make their country stronger. Whey they formed alliances with other nations they had back up

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why did they form alliance systems in World War 1?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions