Ending of British isolation
With the rest of Europe being controlled in a complex string of alliances and treaties during the later half of the 19th century, Britain remained uninvolved. Their policy of "Splendid Isolation" was to keep themselves out of the quarrels and disputes of continental Europe, and allow them to focus on their overseas empire. With the crowing of a new Kaiser in Germany, and the interest of other nations to hold overseas colonies, Britain's colonial empire was under attack. Their interest to focus on their vast empire would eventually lead them into disputes with other European nations. It would ultimately be their reason of going into isolation that would end it.In 1888 Kaiser William II ascended unto the German throne. William II was "filled with a sense of Germany's destiny as the leading power in Europe."(Kagan, Ozment, Turner, The Western Heritage 2nd Ed.) William longed to achieve recognition from the rest of the world that Germany was as great, if not greater the Great Britain. He believed the only way to achieve a "place under the sun" (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, The Western Heritage 2nd Ed.) was to build a navy and establish colonies like Britain. Thus began William II's commitment
Realizing the need to gain allies throughout the world, Britain finally decided to give up her policy of isolation. In 1902, Britain officially became un-isolated with the signing of an alliance with Japan. This alliance insured Britain that Russia would stay in check in the Far East. Britain now had Japan to watch Russian in Asia, and Britain was less fearful of Russian expansion. With the alliance in place, Russian expansion lessened. With disputes slowly coming to an end, the alliance between Britain and Japan would eventually pave the way for future Anglo-Russian cooperation. By 1902, Britain had successfully brought themselves out of their "Splendid Isolation" and established their role on the European continent. By 1904 Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale and were in an alliance. By 1907 Britain was in alliance with both Russia and France in the Triple Entente. This new alliance between the three nations was to establish a direct opposition to the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The ending of British isolation is the result of Kaiser William II's aggressive foreign policy and naval expansion, the Fashoda Crisis and the Boer War in Africa, and Russia's expansion to territory around India. With Britain now allied with France and Russia, Europe has now been split into two sides. This split will eventually lead to the events that initiate the start of the First World War. The Fashoda Incident, also known as the Fashoda Crisis, was the climatic event caused by years of territorial disputes in Africa, between France and Britain. Both countries held a great amount of Africa under their control, but both also claimed land over the area of Sudan. In 1898, the forces of the French and British collided at Fashoda. For days tensions between London and Paris built up and war seemed likely. However, France decided to back down from F
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Approximate Word count = 1277
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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