Final answer:
The Treaty of San Stefano almost led to war because it proposed significant territorial changes in favor of Bulgaria and Russia, unsettling the balance of power in Europe and alarming Britain and Austria-Hungary. The interlocking system of alliances and the intricacies of European power politics played a crucial role in escalating tensions, setting the scene for the eventual outbreak of World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Treaty of San Stefano Almost Led to War:
The Treaty of San Stefano was a key event that unfolded at the end of the Russo-Turkish War in 1878. It was a decisive moment that nearly brought the great European powers to the brink of war. The treaty proposed substantial territorial gains for Russia and the creation of a large Bulgarian state, which alarmed Great Britain and Austria-Hungary as it represented a significant shift in the balance of power in Eastern Europe. These nations feared that the enlarged Bulgaria would function as a Russian satellite, threatening their own interests in the region.
Moreover, the treaty's terms were seen as detrimental to Austria-Hungary's ambitions in the Balkans, especially considering its rivalry with Russia over influence there. The situation was so volatile that each nation started to rally around their alliances. It was the intervention of Germany that was decisive. German leaders urged Austria-Hungary to take a hard line against Serbia, leading to the escalation of tensions in the Balkans. The delicacy of the alliance system meant that one nation's declaration of war could easily trigger a series of alliances, enmeshing all the great powers in conflict, as was seen with Austria-Hungary's relations with Serbia and the subsequent network of diplomatic alliances.
In this context, negotiations and treaties were not just about resolving immediate disputes but were also about managing the complex web of alliances and securing a balance of power. The Treaty of San Stefano and the resulting diplomatic tensions set the stage for the intricate and combustible international politics that would eventually lead to World War I, where diplomacy failed to prevent the cascade of military mobilizations and declarations of war.