VI. The European State System in the Era of Bismarck Flashcards
Andrassy
Hungarian PM and Austria-Hungarian foreign minister from 1871-79. He was a supporter of Germany and created, along with Bismarck, the Austro-German alliance. Under his tenure, Austria-Hungary’s international position improved considerably.
Nietzsche
German philosopher, and critic of culture, who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers. His attempts to unmask the motives that underlie traditional Western religion, morality, and philosophy deeply affected generations of theologians, philosophers, psychologists, poets, novelists, and playwrights. He thought through the consequences of the triumph of the Enlightenment’s secularism, expressed in his observation that “God is dead,” in a way that determined the agenda for many of Europe’s most celebrated intellectuals after his death. He argued the will to power was the driving force of history, and goodness and truth were simply necessary useful for survival and domination. Although he was an ardent foe of nationalism, anti-Semitism, and power politics, his name was later invoked by Fascists to advance the very things he loathed.
Boulanger
A French general who led a brief but influential authoritarian movement that threatened to topple the Third Republic in the 1880s. He was minister for war and a dominant personality in French politics. He courted huge popular support and when he was re-elected deputy of Paris, he was urged to seize control of the government, but he failed to do so, losing much of his following in the process.
Caprivi
German chancellor 1890-94
Bismarck’s successor, who abandoned Bismarck’s military, economic, and ideological cooperation with Russia by not renewing the Reinsurance Treaty after Bismarck’s dismissal, but was unable to forge a close relationship with Britain.
Dreikaiserbund
An alliance in the latter part of the 19th century of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, devised by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. It aimed at neutralizing the rivalry between Germany’s two neighbours by an agreement over their respective spheres of influence in the Balkans and at isolating Germany’s enemy, France.
Francis Joseph
Emperor of Austria (1848–1916) and king of Hungary (1867–1916), who divided his empire into the Dual Monarchy, in which Austria and Hungary coexisted as equal partners. In 1879 he formed an alliance with Prussian-led Germany, and in 1914 his ultimatum to Serbia led Austria and Germany into World War I.
Plevna
The Siege of Plevna, or Siege of Pleven, was a major battle of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), fought by the joint army of Russia and Romania against the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman defense held up the main Russian advance southwards into Bulgaria, encouraging other great powers of the time to actively support the Ottoman cause. Eventually, superior Russian and Romanian numbers forced the garrison to capitulate. The Russians then tried to execute their original plan of penetration deep into European Turkey, but the Great Powers, especially Britain, forced a truce and the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano.
“Plevna is one of the few engagements which changed the course of history” A. J. P. Taylor –> encouraged adoption of magazine-fed weapons; Russia treated unsympathetically at Congress of Berlin
Triple Alliance
Triple Alliance, secret agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed in May 1882 and renewed periodically until World War I. Germany and Austria-Hungary had been closely allied since 1879. Italy sought their support against France shortly after losing North African ambitions to the French. The treaty provided that Germany and Austria-Hungary were to assist Italy if it were attacked by France without Italian provocation; Italy would assist Germany if Germany were attacked by France. In the event of a war between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Italy promised to remain neutral. This abstention would have the effect of freeing Austrian troops that would otherwise have been needed to guard the Austrian-Italian border. However, Italy entered World War I in May 1915 in opposition to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Pan-Slavism
19th-century movement that recognized a common ethnic background among the various Slav peoples of eastern and east central Europe and sought to unite those peoples for the achievement of common cultural and political goals. Activists called upon the Austrian emperor to transform his monarchy into a federation of equal peoples under democratic Habsburg rule. The idea became popular in Russia, which was looked to for leadership and protection from Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian rule, eventually drawing it and Serbia into wars against the Ottoman Empire in 1876-77, and against Austria-Hungary in 1914.
Disraeli
Twice Prime Minister of Britain, whose second term was dominated by the Eastern Question. He worked at the Congress of Berlin to maintain peace in the Balkans and secure terms favourable to Britain, which also weakened Russia. Had a great relationship with Bismarck, and had warned after Plevna that Russia was a threat to British interests in the eastern Mediterranean. At the conference he secured an agreement that Turkey should retain enough of its European possessions to safeguard the Dardenelles.
Treaty of San Stefano
1878, imposed on Turkey by Russia after they yielded in the Russo-Turkish war. Turkey conceded a state “Bulgaria” which covered most of the Balkans, but was initially a Russian-occupied client state. It would have ended effective Turkish control over the Balkans had it not been later modified. It also recognised the independence of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania.
Gambetta
French republican statesman who helped found the Third Republic, transforming the new regime into a parliamentary democracy. His speeches and articles converted many Frenchmen to the ideals of a modern democratic republic, and he gathered support for an elective Democratic Party.
Isvolsky
Aleksandr, Count Izvolsky, diplomat who was responsible for a major Russian diplomatic defeat in the Balkans (1908–09) that increased tensions between Russia and Austria-Hungary prior to World War I.
Crispi
Premier of Italy from 1877-1891 and again 1893-1896
Held position of minister of interior, minister of foreign affairs, and premier - accused of dictatorial tendencies. He renewed the 1882 alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary but broke off trade with France, causing great economic hardship. In his second term he improved the economy but became increasingly oppressive and led a disastrous foreign policy.
Organised Eritrea and tried to turn Italy into a colonial power in Africa. Forced to resign after Italy’s humiliating defeat against Ethiopia in 1896.
War in Sight
Crisis of 1875
A German newspaper published an editorial calling for a preventative war against France to hold them down. Britain and Russia made it clear they would not tolerate such a war. Bismarck was against such a war. He was forced to take into account the alarm his bullying and Germany’s growing power was causing amongst her neighbours. It reinforced his determination that Germany had to actively preserve peace in Europe, rather than let things take their course and then react to them.
