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==Foreign policy==

==Foreign policy==

Wilhelm pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as ''Weltpolitik,'' literally "world policy." The rise of the German economy inspired Germans to seek a larger "place in the sun" in terms of international affairs. ''Weltpolitik'' is to be distinguished from Bismarck's ''Realpolitik'', which emphasized the balance of power concept. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that Germany's economic and military power would allow him to dominate both France and Russia and emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."<ref name=rohl18 /> Mindful of the role the British had played in Napoleon's downfall, Wilhelm built up the German navy hoping that this would intimidate Britain. The British countered with a naval buildup of their own.

Wilhelm pursued an aggressive foreign policy known as ''Weltpolitik,'' literally "world policy." The rise of the German economy inspired Germans to seek a larger "place in the sun" in terms of international affairs. ''Weltpolitik'' is to be distinguished from Bismarck's ''Realpolitik'', which emphasized the balance of power concept. Wilhelm hoped to persuade Britain to withdraw from European affairs. If he could accomplish this, he imagined that Germany's economic and military power would allow him to dominate both France and Russia and emerge with a "Napoleanic supremacy."<ref name=rohl18 />

The kaiser's dream of leading a continental league to one up Britain's King Edward had been sabotaged long before by Bismarck. As a result of Bismarck's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, generations of Frenchmen were inculcated with anti-German feeling. For Bismarck, this was the point. French hostility would unite Germans under his leadership. A French-German-Russian alliance against Britain was proposed at the time of the Boer War in 1900, but failed when Wilhelm demanded that the French recognize Alsace-Lorraine as German.<ref>Röhl, p. 46.</ref>

The kaiser's dream of leading a continental league to one up Britain's King Edward had been sabotaged long before by Bismarck. As a result of Bismarck's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, generations of Frenchmen were inculcated with anti-German feeling. For Bismarck, this was the point. French hostility would unite Germans under his leadership. A French-German-Russian alliance against Britain was proposed at the time of the Boer War in 1900, but failed when Wilhelm demanded that the French recognize Alsace-Lorraine as German.<ref>Röhl, p. 46.</ref> London responded to Germany's rising power and hostility by signing an "Entente" with Paris in 1904.

When the British launched the oversized HMS ''Dreadnought'' in 1906, all earlier warships suddenly became obsolete. A worldwide naval race followed with numerous states placing orders for the superweapon. A naval buildup was authorized by the Reichstag. Germany's naval rivalry with Britain became a focus of public interest and national pride. The Anglo-French Entente, signed in 1904, proved itself effective in 1911 when Britain intervened to support France in the Agadir Crisis. Germany did not have the resources to challenge a combined allied fleet. The episode illustrated the futility of the naval strategy. German attention soon shifted to the army.

Mindful of the role the British had played in Napoleon's downfall, Wilhelm built up the German navy in the hope that this would intimidate Britain. In 1900, the Reichstag enacted a Naval Law that authorized a program of long-term naval expansion. When the British launched the oversized HMS ''Dreadnought'' in 1906, all earlier warships suddenly became obsolete. Numerous states placed orders for the superweapon. The "naval race" between Germany and Britain became a focus of public interest and national pride. The Anglo-French Entente proved itself effective in 1911 when Britain intervened to support France in the Agadir Crisis. Germany did not have the resources to challenge a combined allied fleet. The episode illustrated the futility of the naval strategy. German attention soon shifted to the army.

Finally recovered from the trauma of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Russia reentered great power politics in 1912 by backing the Balkan League in a war against Turkey. Because Wilhelm wanted war with France and Russia, but not Britain, advisers who understood this could manipulate him. Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg withheld crucial telegrams to get his approval for war in 1914.

Finally recovered from the trauma of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Russia reentered great power politics in 1912 by backing the Balkan League in a war against Turkey. Because Wilhelm wanted war with France and Russia, but not Britain, advisers who understood this could manipulate him. Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg withheld crucial telegrams to get his approval for war in 1914.