<P> The long - term French reaction to defeat in the Franco - Prussian war of 1870 - 71 was Revanchism: a deep sense of bitterness, hatred and demand for revenge against Germany, especially because of the loss of Alsace and Lorraine . Paintings that emphasized the humiliation of the defeat came in high demand, such as those by Alphonse de Neuville . </P> <P> French foreign policy was based on a fear of Germany--whose larger size and fast - growing economy could not be matched--combined in the 1870s with a revanchism that demanded the return of Alsace and Lorraine . Apart perhaps from the German threat, most Frenchmen ignored foreign affairs and colonial issues . In 1914 the chief pressure group was the Parti colonial, a coalition of 50 organizations with a combined total of 5000 members . </P> <P> France had colonies in Asia and looked for alliances and found in Japan a possible ally . At Japan's request Paris sent military missions in 1872--1880, in 1884--1889 and in 1918--1919 to help modernize the Japanese army . Conflicts with China over Indochina climaxed during the Sino - French War (1884--1885). Admiral Courbet destroyed the Chinese fleet anchored at Foochow . The treaty ending the war, put France in a protectorate over northern and central Vietnam, which it divided into Tonkin and Annam . </P> <P> France was deeply split between the monarchists on one side, and the Republicans on the other . The Republicans at first seemed highly unlikely to welcome any military alliance with Russia . That large nation was poor and not industrialized; it was intensely religious and authoritarian, with no sense of democracy or freedom for its peoples . It oppressed Poland, and exiled, and even executed political liberals and radicals . At a time when French Republicans were rallying in the Dreyfus affair against anti-Semitism, Russia was the most notorious center in the world of anti-Semitic outrages, including multiple murderous large - scale pogroms against the Jews . On the other hand, France was increasingly frustrated by Bismarck's success in isolating it diplomatically . France had issues with Italy, which was allied with Germany and Austria - Hungary in the Triple Alliance . Paris made a few overtures to Berlin, but they were rebuffed, and after 1900 there was a threat of war between France and Germany over Germany's attempt to deny French expansion into Morocco . Great Britain was still in its "splendid isolation" mode and after a major agreement in 1890 with Germany, it seemed especially favorable toward Berlin . Colonial conflicts in Africa brought Britain and France to a major crisis The Fashoda crisis of 1898 brought Britain and France almost to the brink of war and ended with a humiliation of France that left it hostile to Britain . By 1892 Russia was the only opportunity for France to break out of its diplomatic isolation . Russia had been allied with Germany the new Kaiser Wilhelm removed Bismarck in 1890 and in 1892 ended the "Reinsurance treaty" with Russia . Russia was now alone diplomatically and like France, it needed a military alliance to contain the threat of Germany's strong army and military aggressiveness . The pope, angered by German anti-Catholicism, worked diplomatically to bring Paris and St. Petersburg together . Russia desperately needed money for our infrastructure of railways and ports facilities . The German government refused to allow its banks to lend money to Russia, but French banks eagerly did so . For example, it funded the essential trans - Siberian railway . Negotiations were increasingly successful, and by 1895 . France and Russia had signed the Franco - Russian Alliance, a strong military alliance to join together in war if Germany attacked either of them . France had finally escaped its diplomatic isolation . </P>

What were the two major alliances in europe in the years leading up to world war 1