Question
Growing rivalries led the nations to make military alliances. Prussia's chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, feared
that France would want revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. He set out to isolate France. In 1879,
he formed a Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy. He also signed a treaty with Russia.
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany did not want to share power with Bismarck. He forced Bismarck to resign
and followed his own foreign policy. He let the agreement with Russia end. Russia soon allied itself with
France. This alliance meant that Germany would have to fight enemies on its eastern and western borders if
there were a war with either country. Wilhelm I then moved to make the German navy larger.
Britain grew alarmed. It began to build more ships. It also entered into the Triple Entente alliance with
France and Russia. The six Great Powers had now formed two camps-
- Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
against Britain, France, and Russia.
2. What two groups of nations developed?
Answer
The two groups of nations that developed were:
1. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
2. Britain, France, and Russia.