ectricity output matched that of Britain, France, and Italy combined, while its electrical and chemical industries led the world. Everywhere the British looked, they saw signs of Germanys newfound power. It was hardly a situation to promote harmony between the two peoples. (Ross 19). Germany, which was becoming a worldwide empire with a solid economy, was becoming dangerous to England. Likewise, England posed a threat to Germany. Other rivalries such as ones between France and Germany, Russia and Germany, and Austria-Hungary and Serbia began springing up all over Europe (Ross 18-19). In each case, the rivalries promoted arms races between countries and formulated war plans in case a war did break out. France and German led the arms race while Britain led the naval race (Ross 21). The intense arms races going on troubled many people such as British foreign minister Edward Gray who said this escalation the arms race made war inevitable. (Ross 20).In response to these rivalries, countries formed alliances with one another in case of a war. At first, small alliances were formed between several nations of Europe but as alliances were formed, more rivalries formed due to countries fearing particular rivalries. More rivalries brought about more alliances and so forth until most of Europe was divided into two alliances. One was the Triple Alliance of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy and the other was the Triple Entente of Britain, France, and Russia. However, the alliances were even more complex and indirectly almost every European nations was involved in one of these alliances (McGowen 16). Because of these alliances, most countries could no longer be neutral if a problem arose between two nations. The formation of alliances between the nations of Europe made it almost impossible for a small regional conflict not to escalate into a large crisis.Rivalries between countries were not the only quarrels going on in Europe during this time. Ther...
