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Alliances

Definition

In the context of European history, alliances refer to formal agreements or treaties between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes, often for mutual defense against other powers.

Analogy

Think of alliances like a group project in school. Each member (or country) has their own strengths and weaknesses but they agree to work together to achieve a common goal - whether that's getting an A on the project or maintaining peace and security.

Related terms

Triple Alliance: This was a military alliance formed between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary during World War I. It's like three friends promising to back each other up in a fight.

Triple Entente: This was another military alliance formed among Russia, France, and Great Britain in response to the Triple Alliance. Imagine these as another group of three friends who band together because they're worried about what the first group might do.

Central Powers: This term refers to Germany and its allies (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) during World War I. They were essentially one big team working against another team (the Allies).



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.