Bismarcks Role in german unification

A detailed Summary of Bismarcks Role in german unification

What were the main characteristic features of the first Bismarckian Alliance system 1879-1883 ?

During the 1870's in the aftermath of the creation of the German Empire, the main issues to vex the Great Powers were Austro-Russian rivalry in the Balkans, and German fear that such a rivalry might develop into a general conflict which could provide an outlet for French revanchism against Germany. The Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78 demonstrated that Austria and Russia could restrain their rivalry in the interests of the general peace; the disputes following the Treaty of San Stefano leading up to the 1878 Congress of Berlin demonstrated that such restraint was limited. The issue of the Balkans was to remain an area of concern for the European States up to and beyond the First World War, even though there was to be no further significant conflict involving the Great Powers between 1879 and 1914. Having lost Italy and Germany the Balkan region was the only remaining external sphere of influence for the Dual Monarchy, and Slavic Russia was dependent on the Bosporus Straits for her grain exports. Bismarck still feared the consequences of a great power conflict in the Balkans and hence aimed to build an alliance structure that provide

Ever since his total victory in 1870, Bismarck had feared a French revival. Alsace-Lorraine had been a valuable prize, but one which made the Chancellor nervous of revanchism. Consequently the alliance system set out to exclude France, specifically from a Russian alliance, but also from an Austrian alliance against Russia. Bismarck succeeded in this between 1879-83, and French isolation is a characteristic which distinguishes the system from the later 1880's where the French and Russians were gradually drawn together. The only specific treaty clause against France was in Article II of the Triple Alliance which protects Italy and Germany from attack "without direct provocation" . However, it was the Three Emperors Alliance which confirmed French isolation, the Triple Alliance merely provided for the failure of the policy; there was some fear that Italy might become a republic and form a league with France and perhaps ultimately Spain and Portugal in the Western Mediterranean, but such fears were tiny compared to a Franco-Russian alliance. The brief Gambetta administration in France (November 1881- January 1882) and the subsequent Skobelev crisis cemented such fears but at that stage they came to nothing. Bismarck even encouraged France in her occupation of Tunis in 1881 as he perceived that if she were compensated and kept busy in North Africa, France would be less likely to pursue a revanchist policy on the continent.

Britain also remained isolated during this period although less owing to German insecurity than partly to her own policies, and partly due to her lack of usefulness to the Bismarckian system. Initially the British government were delighted with the Dual Alliance, Salisbury described it as "good tidings of great joy" since it meant that Britain would not have to fight against Russia in the Balkans since Germany would be committed to preventing conflict or opposing Russia herself. The Three Emperors League however, was less to Britain's favour. Bismarck refused the trilateral treaty with Britain that Haymerle wanted partly because he felt it would increase the risk of conflict with Russia, conflict in which Britain would only commit her naval power, and Germany would have to bear the brunt of land fighting; he also opposed it because he wanted an agreement with Russia anyway and Britain could not be a part of that due to her rivalry with Russia. The League of 1881 agreed to reunite Bulgaria and accepted Russia's definition of the closure of the Turkish straits. Britain were in opposition but in isolation. She could not, as in 1833, even turn to France, since colonial dispute over Britain's occupation of Egypt isolated the two from each other. Gladstone's rhetoric and policies may have assisted this position but it was Bismarck's intention to exclude Britain and to that end he succeeded.

The British General Election of 1880 was fought considerably over foreign policy and the isolationist view prevailed. In the countries involved in the Alliance System, however, public opinion counted for little in the formation of Treaties. The reason why Alexander III was so reticent in dealing with Skobelev is because the latter was we

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Approximate Word count = 2129
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History