The Great War

The Edwardian Age

• Liberalism in Decline?
  • Irish civil war
  • Labor unrest
  • Suffragettes
  • Arms race with Germany
• A Golden Age?
  • The country house
  • Untaxed wealth
  • House of Lords

Edward VII 1901-1910

George V 1910-1936

Bismarck

Alliance System

Franco-Russian Alliance 1894

Britain's Diplomatic Goals

• Balance of Power
• Protect Empire
• Royal Navy #1

Suez Canal

William II--"weltpolitik"

Naval Arms Race

Costs--Navy

• 1886 13 million
• 1896 22 million
• 1900 28 million

Dreadnoughts 1906ff

• Lord Fisher
• Kiel Canal

Entanglements

• Anglo-French "entente" 1904
• Anglo-Russian "entente" 1907
  • Oil--Persia
• Official Secrets Act 1911

German attack on France: 1914

• Schlieffen Plan
• Belgian neutrality
• Lord Grey--foreign secretary

Could Great Britain have avoided the Great War?

Should they have done more to stay out?

C