Changes

France and Germany remained enemies, even after the ending of hostilities. French public opinion was very nationalistic and anti-Prussian and was determined to avenge the defeat in 1870-71. The country gradually rebuilt its power by creating a vast Empire in Africa and Asia and this alarmed Berlin. Germany and France began to gather allies in the belief that one day that there would be another Franco-German war. By 1900, Europe was divided into two hostile alliances, one that was led by Germany and the other that was led by France. Europe was divided into two hostile power blocs because of the bitter Franco-German rivalry. The 1870-71 war resulted in two mutually hostile powers in Europe, and this was to lead to two rival alliances on the continent ultimately. This antagonistic rivalry was perhaps the most significant factor in the outbreak of the First World War.<ref>MacMillan, Margaret. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812980662/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812980662&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=98ffca4c755131019a3a31aed61c4527 The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914]'' (2013).</ref>

The Franco-Prussian War decisively changed the balance of power in Europe. The origins of the war lay in the process of the unification of Germany. Bismarck provoked a war with France in order to complete the unification of Germany. The aftermath of the war, was the fall of Napoleon III and left Germany as the most important state in Europe. However, the growing power of Germany eventually led to the formation of two opposing alliances. The Franco-Prussian War ‘led to a united Germany, but a more divided Europe’ and this ultimately led to the great catastrophe of the First World War.<ref>MacMillan, p.78.</ref>

{Mediawiki:Cell}}