Jaurès was a committed antimilitarist who tried to use diplomatic means to prevent what became the First World War.
In 1913, he opposed Émile Driant's Three-Year Service Law, which implemented a draft period, and tried to promote understanding between France and Germany.
 As conflict became imminent, he tried to organise general strikes in France and Germany in order to force the governments to back down and negotiate.
 This proved difficult, however, as many Frenchmen sought revenge (revanche) for their country's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the return of the lost Alsace-Lorraine territory.
Then, in May 1914, with Jaurès intending to form an alliance with Joseph Caillaux for the labour movement, the Socialists won the General Election.
 They planned to take office and "press for a policy of European peace".
Jaurès accused French President Raymond Poincaré of being "more Russian than Russia"; whereas René Viviani complied.

In July 1914, he attended the Socialist Congress in Brussels where he struck up a constructive solidarity with German socialist party leader Hugo Haase.
 On the 20th of that month, Jaurès voted against a parliamentary subsidy for Poincaré's visit to St. Petersburg; which he condemned as both dangerous and provocative.
The Caillaux–Jaurès alliance was dedicated to defeating military objectives aimed toward precipitating war.
France sent a mission, headed by Poincaré, to coordinate French and Russian responses.
Always a pacifist, Jaurès rushed back to Paris to attempt an impossible reconciliation with the government.
Russia had partially mobilized, which Germany took as an extreme provocation.
Jaurès was a committed antimilitarist who tried to use diplomatic means to prevent what became the First World War. In 1913, he opposed Émile Driant's Three-Year Service Law, which implemented a draft period, and tried to promote understanding between France and Germany.  As conflict became imminent, he tried to organise general strikes in France and Germany in order to force the governments to back down and negotiate.  This proved difficult, however, as many Frenchmen sought revenge (revanche) for their country's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the return of the lost Alsace-Lorraine territory. Then, in May 1914, with Jaurès intending to form an alliance with Joseph Caillaux for the labour movement, the Socialists won the General Election.  They planned to take office and "press for a policy of European peace". Jaurès accused French President Raymond Poincaré of being "more Russian than Russia"; whereas René Viviani complied.
In July 1914, he attended the Socialist Congress in Brussels where he struck up a constructive solidarity with German socialist party leader Hugo Haase.  On the 20th of that month, Jaurès voted against a parliamentary subsidy for Poincaré's visit to St. Petersburg; which he condemned as both dangerous and provocative. The Caillaux–Jaurès alliance was dedicated to defeating military objectives aimed toward precipitating war. France sent a mission, headed by Poincaré, to coordinate French and Russian responses. Always a pacifist, Jaurès rushed back to Paris to attempt an impossible reconciliation with the government. Russia had partially mobilized, which Germany took as an extreme provocation.
Jean Jaurès