The Second Industrial Revolution was spearheaded by Great Britain and Germany, who had built massive railways and telegraph systems. Using these systems, along with other inventions such as steam ships, allowed products to be shipped farther and faster than ever before. Countries were linked together, with information reached places in record time. The economic boom created allowed Germany to invest in smaller nations that lacked the money or knowledge to industrialize. By 1910, 60% of Germany's foreign investment was in Europe. These smaller nations joined the Grand Alliance, which threatened to tip the scales and become the continent's dominant power.