Europe Moving Towards War

After Napoleon was defeated, the Congress of Vienna met in 1814. The group wanted to create peace and a balance of power in Europe. The Congress took apart the French Empire and gave monarchs back their thrones. However, a new political ideal was taking shape. Nationalism swept through Europe. Nationalists thought nations should be formed based on people who shared common heritage, language, and customs. Monarchs had gained their land by winning wars, signing treaties, and arranging marriages. As a result, Europe had empires that each included many nationalities. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russian Empire, and Ottoman Empire each included many ethnic groups. For example, in addition to ruling over Russians, the Russian czar ruled over Ukrainians, Poles, Jews, and Turks. Each of these groups had its own culture. Nationalists thought each of these ethnic groups deserved its own country. Nationalism tore apart empires, but it built nations. By 1870, Italy was a unified nation. Germany also achieved national unity in the mid-1800s. People felt patriotic and devoted to their countries. However, nationalism also set the stage for war because it caused competition between nations. European nations competed for materials to use in their factories and for markets to sell their goods in. The nations competed with each other for colonies in Africa and Asia. For example, Germany and France nearly went to war twice over who would control Morocco in Northern Africa. When most of Europe supported France, Germany backed down. As distrust between countries grew, the European powers built up their militaries. The rivalries led to the creation of military alliances. Countries had alliances that would back each other up if one of their allies was attacked. In the 1880s, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance. Britain, France, and Russia joined together under the Triple Entente in the early 1900s. The French word “entente” means “alliance” or “agreement.” The alliances were designed to keep peace. However, a disagreement between two rival powers could now drag the whole continent to war. In 1914, a chain reaction would lead to World War I. It would be the largest war Europe and the world had ever seen.

Multiple Choice (Choose the best answer using the reading)

1. Monarchs had gained their land by .

A. winning wars

B. signing treaties

C. arranging marriages

D. all of the above

2. Both and Germany became unified nations in the 1800s.

A. Morocco

B. France

C. Italy

D. Great Britain

3. Germany and France nearly went to war over who would control .

A. the Triple Entente

B. the Triple Alliance

C. the Russian Empire

D. Morocco

4. thought nations should be formed based on people who shared common heritage, language, and customs.

A. Conservatives

B. Nationalists

C. The Congress of Vienna

D. Monarchs

5. The Triple Alliance was made up of .

A. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

B. Britain, France, and Russia

C. Morocco, Poland, and the Ottoman Empire

D. all of the above