Was the system of alliances between European powers the main cause of Essay

Was the system of alliances between European powers the main cause of the first world war - Essay Example Britain and France had recently established treaties that provided for a more efficient use of each country’s navies. Other treaties between England and Belgium securing protection for the latter and France and Russia working toward more harmonious relations had also been established by 1911.2 To gain a true understanding of what caused the Great War, as it was known by its contemporaries, it is necessary to understand some of these alliances particularly in light of the events occurring from 1911 forward which finally brought the world to war. Much of the conflict leading to the Great War can be traced back to Morocco. A stalemate conflict between Germany and France regarding free trade in Morocco in 1905 significantly contributed to the escalation of tension throughout the Eurasian countries as Germany began to threaten violence and the other nations began to recognize signs of serious aggression.3 Armed conflict was avoided when Germany was forced, by the bulking of other nations, to abandon imperialistic intentions and leave Morocco untouched. However, in 1911, an internal issue in Morocco sent that government appealing to France for help. The appeal to France, whom Germany had already fought with earlier, resulted in another, more serious, stand-off. Germany felt that France, by sending an army to Morocco, had violated earlier agreements. Germany’s aggressive military response to France’s presence in Morocco publicly embarrassed France’s more diplomatic government, quickly causing it to be replace d with a more hostile and aggressive government.4 The standoff was settled by allowing France to maintain a protectorate over Morocco in exchange for providing German colonies with land access to the Congo in Africa, thereby providing them with greater trade opportunities. Stirred by the events in Morocco, small wars began to break out between those nations in and around the