What were the main characteristic features of the first Bismarckian Alliance system 1879-1883 ? During the 1870's in the aftermath of the creation of the German Empire, the main issues to vex the Great Powers were Austro-Russian rivalry in the Balkans, and German fear that such a rivalry might develop into a general conflict which could provide an outlet for French revanchism against Germany. The Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78 demonstrated that Austria and Russia could restrain …showed first 75 words of 2111 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2111 total…Britain and France were excluded from the system for separate reasons and due to mutual disagreement became isolated. Italy gained recognition as a great power but was to gain more in the later 1880's. Finally public opinion counted for little in the system which was built on the premise of monarchical solidarity. These were the features which built the system and the weaknesses inherent within some of them were later to combine to destroy it.