France

What was France like in 1914?

France was economically strong in 1914 and had the second-largest empire in the world, with many trade links.

What was the foreign policy of France in 1914?

Much of French foreign policy centred on the threat from Germany:

• ❖ France wanted revenge on Germany for her defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and to regain the rich provinces of Alsace and Lorraine that had been lost after the war.
• ❖ France, therefore, signed military alliances with Russia and Britain to protect herself from German attack.
• ❖ Militarism was important in France as she underwent large scale rearmament before 1914 to rival Germany.

What was the French economy like in 1914?

France was an industrialised nation by 1914:

• ❖ It had well developed industries.
• ❖ It was a leader in science and technology.
• ❖ It possessed a large agricultural sector.

What was the French empire like 1914?

France's empire played an important role in its economy:

• ❖ It had the second largest empire in the world after Britain.
• ❖ It was a strong trading nation.
• ❖ Much of its wealth came from its Asian and African colonies but despite this the economy was weaker than Germany's.

What was the French government like in 1914?

France was a republic with an elected head of state and an elected prime minister.

What was the population of France in 1914?

France ruled over 40 million citizens internally and another 58 million subjects in its empire.