What are some reasons why the Triple Alliance and ...

Dear Cathylipp,

So you're into the First World War, huh? Cool, so am I. Here we go: After the defeat of Napolean's France in the early 1800's, the European Continent  was left with a power vacuum that the once feared French Army  had previously filled. For sixty years, this vacuum was largely left void, because there was really no Continental Nation capable of filling it. Austria was too weak and riven by internal divisions, Russia too far away, France was still experimenting with democracy, etc., etc. You get the idea. However, in the 1850's a new Prussian (German) Chancellor came to power named Otto Von Bismark. Bismark united all the squabbling German states into one, unified Germany under Prussia's militaristic heading. In 1870, Prussia went to war with France and defeated her, signaling that there was a new Continental Power to fill the void. However, Germany was envious of the privileges and status accorded the European Old Boys Club of Britain, France and Russia, the three traditionally great powers of Europe. Germany put a semi 'cold war' into play against France, began an arms race against Britain and began treating her border with Russia with a lot of suspicion and hostility. When Italy became it's own nation in 1861 it had it's own share of suspicions against France. This naturally drove Italy and Germany together as far as foreign policy was concerned. France, meanwhile, thirsted for revenge from her humiliating defeat in 1871 and was looking for a partner to help her out in this scheme. Once relations deteriorated between Germany and Russia, France saw her chance and approached Russia regarding an Alliance, which the French named the 'Entente' (Understanding). With her two powerful rivals making up an alliance, Germany felt she had to follow suit to protect herself.  She approached Austria-Hungary in the 1890's and the two formed themselves into the Dual Alliance. Britain, meanwhile was casting alarmed and suspicious eyes on the stupendous growth of Germany's Navy. Finally, the French persuaded Britain to join their Entente with Russia, and it became called the Entente Cordiale (the friendly understanding). Italy was persuaded to join Germany and Austria in 1911 so that the Dual Alliance became the Triple Alliance. These two armed camps in Europe spied on eachother, measured eachothers relative military strengths and vulnerabilities and squabbled about colonies, foreign markets, trade and jockeyed diplomatically for dominant position in Europe. All of these things would help to heighten tensions that would eventually require just one spark to set off a World War.