1 The Alliances and the balance of power

1. The Road to War 1 The Alliances and the balance of power

2. The system of alliances you have just studied was designed to keep the peace through maintaining a balance of power. The cartoon shown on the next slide was an attempt to sum up how the balance of power worked.

3. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

4. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

5. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

6. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

7. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

8. A modern redrawing of an American cartoon published in the Brooklyn Eagle, July 1914. The cartoon was called ‘The Chain of Friendship’.

9. Balance of power Work in pairs. One of you should try to convince your partner that the cartoonist thinks the alliances helped prevent war. The other should try to convince your partner that the cartoon is saying the alliances made war more likely. How is it possible to interpret the same source two ways?

10. Your judgement – the alliances were … • Stupid and selfish • Risky • Understandable • Motivated by fear • Motivated by greed and ambition • More than one of these

11. Your judgement – the alliances … • Made war less likely • Made war more likely • I cannot decide