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__NOTOC__[[File:577px-Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter_Napoleon_III.jpg|thumbnail|left|Franz Napoleon III of France|200px]]The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71 was one of the most significant wars of the Nineteenth nineteenth century. It changed the balance of power in Europe and resulted in the France's relative decline of France , and confirmed the rise of a United Germany as the major power on the continent. This was to have great war had enormous implications for international relations not only in Europe but around the Globe. The Franco-Prussian War was to lay laid the foundation for the First World War.<ref>Wentzel, David (2003) ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0299174948/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0299174948&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ad56522dfb7eaa8514ef168fb9859656 A Duel of Giants: Bismarck, Napoleon III, and the Origins of the Franco-Prussian War]'', p. 12 Background.</ref> In 1870, France was regarded as the most powerful country in mainland Europe. It was ruled by the authoritarian Emperor Napoleon III. He had actively sought to expand French influence in Europe and around the world. Napoleon III inspired by his grandfather Napoleon I, sought to make France the greatest nation in Europe. He had fought wars against the Russian Empire in the Crimea and in Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Emperor was also acquiring colonies in Asia and Africa .<ref>Wetzel, p. 6.</ref> [[File:577px-Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter_Napoleon_III.jpg|thumbnail|Franz Napoleon III of France|300px]]

Germany at this time was still divided among various====Background====In 1870, often small principalities and dukedoms. Prussia France was regarded as the most powerful German state country in mainland Europe, and under the leadership of Chancellor Otto Bismarck, authoritarian Emperor Napoleon III ruled it . He had actively sought to unify Germany under its leadershipexpand French influence in Europe and around the world. Bismarck had cleverly engineered wars with Denmark and Austro-HungaryNapoleon III, inspired by his grandfather Napoleon I, which resulted in Prussian coming sought to dominate make France the Northern German Statesgreatest nation in Europe. Bismarck sought to unite He had fought wars against the Southern German states under Russian Empire in Crimea and Italy against the leadership of GermanyAustro-Hungarian Empire. However, Bismarck, knew that France would resist this, as Napoleon III, did not want a strong The Emperor was also acquiring colonies in Asia and united Germany on its bordersAfrica .<ref> Taylor, A.J.P. (1987). ''The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848–1918''Wetzel, p. 3456.</ref>

==Origins of Germany at this time was still divided among various, often small principalities and dukedoms. Prussia was the War==The origins of most powerful German state, and under the Franco-Prussian war were a direct consequence leadership of the rise of Prussia and Chancellor Otto Bismarck, it sought to unify Germany under its growing influence in Germanyleadership. After Prussia Bismarck had defeated Austria cleverly engineered wars with Denmark and Austro-Hungary, which resulted in 1866 at Prussian coming to dominate the Battle of Sadowa, ‘it seemed that it was only a matter of time before they brought all Northern German States. Bismarck sought to unite the Southern German states under the control leadership of BerlinGermany. However, Bismarck knew that France would resist this, as Napoleon III did not want a strong and united Germany on its borders.’<ref> WetzelTaylor, pA.J.P. (1987). ''[https://www. 123amazon.<com/gp/product/0198221010/ref>This would have been disastrous =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0198221010&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9bcbcf09a3ab75451756dedba1242e71 The Struggle for France.<ref> TaylorMastery in Europe 1848–1918]'', p. 347345.</ref> Napoleon III ordered a rapid expansion of his armed forces in 1866 and this greatly added to tensions with Prussia.

Many in Berlin, ====Origins of the War====The origins of the Franco-Prussian capital believed that war with Napoleon III was inevitable were a direct consequence of Prussia's rise and desirable its growing influence in order to achieve German unityGermany. Many historians believe After Prussia had defeated Austria in 1866 at the Battle of Sadowa, ‘it seemed that Bismarck created a diplomatic crisis in order to engineer it was only a war with France. A Prussian prince was one matter of time before they brought all the candidates for the Throne of SpainGerman states under Berlin's control. However’<ref> Wetzel, France feared encirclement by Prussia and forced the prince to renounce his claims, to the Kingdom of Spainp. 123. </ref>This was a national humiliation would have been disastrous for Prussia. Bismarck, wanted a war with France and so devised a plan to provoke France into declaring war on his country, he changed a telegram sent by the Prussian King to Napoleon III, to make it appear insulting. This became known as the Ems telegram. The French public were enraged, when Bismarck made public the telegram, and the government in Paris declared war on Prussia.<ref> Rich, Norman (1991) ''Great Power Diplomacy: 1814-1914''Taylor, p. 156347.</ref>Napoleon III ordered a rapid expansion of his armed forces in 1866, which significantly added to tensions with Prussia.

==Franco-In Berlin, the Prussian War==The French army advanced into the Rhineland capital believed that war with Napoleon III was inevitable and captured the desirable to achieve German city of Saarbuckenunity. Many historians believe that Bismarck created a diplomatic crisis to engineer a war with France. The army A Prussian prince was one of Napoleon III was ill-prepared the candidates for war as many the Throne of its best troops were fighting in the coloniesSpain. However, such as Algeria France feared encirclement by Prussia and Vietnam. Alarmed at forced the French invasion, the southern German states eventually put their armies under the command of prince to renounce his claims to the Prussian Army.<ref> Clark, C. (2006). ''Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600–1947'', pSpain. 345.</ref> Suddenly, France This was faced with a united Germany, under the leadership of national humiliation for Prussia. The German forces, under the command of Field Marshal Helmut Von Moltke, gradually pushed the French army back Bismarck wanted a war with France and devised a plan to provoke France into eastern Francedeclaring war on his country. Gradually, He changed a large section of telegram sent by the French army Prussian King to Napoleon III, to make it appear insulting. This became encircled in known as the city of MetzEms telegram. The French When Bismarck made public was alarmed at this and demanded the lifting of telegram, the siege. A large French army public was assembled enraged, and advanced to break the German siege at Metz. The French as they advanced towards Metz were lured into a trap at Sedan by the Prussian and German forces. The French army suffered a catastrophic defeat at Sedan and this battle decided the government in Paris declared war in on Prussia's favor. France had lost most of its army and was defenseless before the German army.<ref> WawroRich, G. Norman (20031991). ''The Franco-Prussian War[https: The German Conquest of France in 1870–1871''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p//www. 167amazon.<com/gp/product/0070522545/ref> During the battle Napoleon III was captured by Prussian forces. The war continued and the French refused to surrender. Napoleon III abdicated and he was replaced by a government of National Defense, who carried on the war. The Germans advanced to Paris and besieged the city, where the Prussian Kaiser was crowned the monarch of a united Germany in Versailles. The Government of National Defense, after increasingly heavy French losses during the siege of Paris, accepted the inevitable and agreed to a Peace Treaty with the newly created German Empire.<ref>Wawro=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0070522545&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8ba4e75fa345128994be3cf8a5e3e82a Great Power Diplomacy: 1814-1914]'', p. 345156.</ref>

==Aftermath of the war==[[File:512pxFranco-BismarckundNapoleonIII.jpg|thumbnail|Napoleon III and Bismarck after Napoleon was captured at the Battle of Sedan 1870]]Prussian War====The Franco-Prussian war was a resounding victory for French army advanced into the new German Empire. Germany was united under Prussia, after the war Rhineland and was captured the largest and most populous state, apart from RussiaGerman city of Saarbrucken. Eventually, Germany withdrew from most The army of France, although they annexed the French provinces of AlsaceNapoleon III was ill-Lorraine. France was also expected to pay reparations to the new German state. Germany’s emergence prepared for war as the most powerful state in Europe was to change the balance many of power in Europe its best troops were fighting in the decades that followedcolonies, such as Algeria and Vietnam. Germany had replaced France as Alarmed at the leading nation in continental Europe andFrench invasion, the southern German states eventually put their armies under Bismarck, established good diplomatic relations with Russia and Great Britain, to secure its positionthe Prussian Army's command.<ref>RichClark, C. (2006). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674031962/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674031962&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8a8ca91208b00502f6a618d1cee8f74a Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600–1947]'', p. 167345.</ref> Suddenly, France and was faced with a united Germany remained enemiesunder Prussia's leadership. The German forces, even after under the ending command of hostilitiesField Marshal Helmut Von Moltke, gradually pushed the French army back into eastern France. Gradually, a large section of the French army became encircled in the city of Metz. The French public opinion was very nationalistic alarmed at this and anti-Prussian and was determined to avenge demanded the lifting of the defeat in 1870-71. The country gradually rebuilt its power by creating a vast Empire in Africa and Asia and this alarmed Berlinsiege. Germany A large French army was assembled and France began advanced to gather allies in break the belief that one day that there would be another Franco-German warsiege at Metz. By 1900As they advanced towards Metz, Europe was divided the French were lured into two hostile alliances, one that was led a trap at Sedan by Germany the Prussian and the other that was led by France. Europe was divided into two hostile power blocs because of the bitter Franco-German rivalryforces. The 1870-71 war resulted in two mutually hostile powers in Europe French army suffered a catastrophic defeat at Sedan, and this was to ultimately lead to two rival alliances on battle decided the continent. This was perhaps the greatest factor war in the outbreak of the First World WarPrussia's favor.<ref>MacMillan, Margaret. ''The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914'' (2013)</ref>

France had lost most of its army and was defenseless before the German army.<ref>Wawro, G. (2003). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052161743X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=052161743X&linkCode=Conclusionas2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c58bdc68dd260093aaeccd66ef3dd771 The Franco-Prussian War decisively changed the balance : The German Conquest of power France in Europe1870–1871]''. The origins of the war lay in the process of the unification of GermanyCambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 167. Bismarck provoked a war with France in order to complete </ref> During the unification of Germanybattle, Napoleon III was captured by Prussian forces. The aftermath of the warcontinued, was and the fall of French refused to surrender. Napoleon III abdicated, and left Germany as he was replaced by a government of National Defense, who carried on the most important state in Europewar. HoweverThe Germans advanced to Paris and besieged the city, where the growing power of Germany eventually led to Prussian Kaiser has crowned the formation monarch of two opposing alliances. The Franco-Prussian War ‘led to a united Germanyin Versailles. The Government of National Defense, after increasingly heavy French losses during the siege of Paris, but a more divided Europe’ accepted the inevitable and this ultimately led agreed to a Peace Treaty with the great catastrophe of the First World Warnewly created German Empire.<ref>MacMillanWawro, p.78345.</ref>

=References===Aftermath of the war====[[File:512px-BismarckundNapoleonIII.jpg|thumbnail|left|Napoleon III and Bismarck after Napoleon was captured at the Battle of Sedan 1870]]The Franco-Prussian war was a resounding victory for the new German Empire. After the war, Germany was united under Prussia and was the largest and most populous state, apart from Russia. Eventually, Germany withdrew from most of France, although they annexed the French provinces of Alsace-Lorraine. France was also expected to pay reparations to the new German state. Germany’s emergence as the most powerful state in Europe was to change the balance of power in Europe in the decades that followed. Germany had replaced France as the leading nation in continental Europe and, under Bismarck, established good diplomatic relations with Russia and Great Britain, to secure its position.<ref>Rich, p. 167.</ref>  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, which alarmed Berlin. Germany and France began to gather allies in the belief that there would be another Franco-German war one day. By 1900, Europe was divided into two hostile alliances, one 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, which led to two rival alliances on the continent. 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> ====Conclusion====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 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>  <div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Military History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=7}}<references/div> {{Contributors}}

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