5) Foreign policy of Wilhelm II, 1890-1911
Essay practise
DEADLINE: 10 Sept 2021 at 8:15 > Return folder in ManageBac
(A) Begin with an introduction to the research question!
* "The aim of the essay is to investigate..."
* "To what extent is it fair to say that...?"
* "It is important to study this (these) question(s) because..."
* Give an ARGUMENT on the question! FOCUS!
(B) Make analysis!
* Introduce evidence on the argument and discuss about the evidence
* Give different points of views; make interpretations
* "On the other hand,...", "However,...", "Moreover,..."
* Use linkages if the command term demands to compare and/or contrast:
- when comparisons/ similarities f.ex.: "Both Lenin and Trotsky...", "In the USSR...; similarly in Mao's China..."
- when contrasts/ differences f.ex.: "After the 1905 Revolution...Whereas/However/But as a consequence of the February 1917 Revolution...)
* Use KEY CONCEPTS of History!
(C) Introduce the conclusion(s) of your analysis!
* "As a conclusion..."
* Answer the question(s)
* Put things in the wider context; introduce the effects in the long run (vs short run)
* There are no exact rules for the certain minimum amount of the words. BUT: Could the essay be analytical enough without at least 500 words?
Essay practise
DEDLINE: 10 Sept 2021 > Return folder in ManageBac.
Making of the Triple Entente
To what extent did the Triple Entente mark a 'diplomatic revolution'?
Weltpolitik and the European tensions
B. Weltpolitik and the End of British Isolation (1897-1904)*
* teacher's power point (below)
C. The Crises and Tension (1905-11)
TASK: Consider, how close did the Great Powers come to war.
C1. First Moroccan Crisis (1905-06)
- Germany's concern about Morocco becoming a French protectorate ('another Tunisia') < against the commercial interests of Germany
> In March 1905, Wilhelm II made an unexpected visit to Tanger for support the independence of Morocco
> Germany demanded an international conference for determine the status of Morocco and 'fair shares for all' (= 'open door' principles) on Moroccan trade
> Possible (even hoped?) war against France
< Russia of that time was a weak ally for France >
> France tried to placate the Germans by a forced resignation of foreign minister Delecasse (the architect of the Entente Cordiale)
> In July France accepted the German demand for conference where the 'security and independence' of Morocco would be decided by international agreement (not by France and Britain alone)
> the Germans speculated that Britain would vote against the French predominance in Morocco which could create Anglo-French tension
< the central (but hidden) purpose of German diplomacy on Moroccan affairs was to disturb the Anglo-French Entente
> Contrary to Kaiser's expectations the British government gave complete support for France at Algeciras conference in 1906
> Germany had to give up
Results:
- France strengthened its position in Morocco
- Instead of weakening, the crisis strengthened Anglo-French Entente: 'Cordial co-operation with France' became a basic principle of British foreign policy
- In Britain considerations about how to aid France if Germany attacked > An option of British military participation in the continent ('Revolution in European affairs')
(During the crisis a new foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey had unofficially and confidentially given a promise that Britain would support France if she were attacked by Germany)
- Moroccan crisis, provoked by Germany itself, was a disaster for its Weltpolitik
C2. The Anglo-Russian Entente (1907)
- Backround: Russia’s defeat in the Far East made it ready for compromises in Central Asia
- Anglo-Russian tensions in Persia, Tibet and Afghanistan were solved (e.g. Persia was divided into three zones)
- The security of India was confirmed (by ‘buffer states’) and (besides of actual agreement) a free passage of Russian warships on the Straits (between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean) was promised by Britain
C3. The Bosnian Crisis (1908-09)
- Austria-Hungary had controlled Bosnia, together with Herzegovina, since the Congress of Berlin in 1878
- The 'Young Turks', the new rulers of Turkey, wanted to restore Bosnia to full Turkish rule
- To prevent this, Austria decided formally annex Bosnia and Herzegovina in the beginning of October
(- The annexation was timed to coincidence with the Bulgaria's proclamation of de jure independence from the Ottoman Empire by Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, the later 'Tsar' of Bulgaria)
- The Turks demanded compensation for the 'seizure of a Turkish province'
- The annexation both angered Serbia which regarded the Bosnian Serbs as belonging to a future 'Greater Serbia' and made it fear to be the next to be taken over > The Serbs looked to Russia for support (< 'slavophilia')
- Russian foreign minister (suprisingly and without consulting his prime minister!) agreed to the annexation of Bosnia < In return Austria accepted Russia's desire to control the Straits (but didn't keep its promise)
- Austria-Hungary supported by Germany and encouraged by the weakeness of Russia threatened to attack on Serbia
- Russia without support from its Entente partners, Britain and France, couldn't help the Serbs
Results:
- Serbia agreed to 'live at peace' with Austria-Hungary
- Russia felt humiliated, Serbia was embittered
- Co-operation during the crisis strenghthened the Austro-German alliance
- The former Austro-Russian agreement over the Balkans collapsed
C4. The Naval Race
C5. The Agadir/ Second Moroccan crisis (1911)
A pair work:
A: Topic C4 -> page 88
B: Topic C5 -> pages 89-91
