Chenaouy Diane6FRCTuesday, the 18th September 2007Franco-Prussian War After the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, there was created a German Confederation of thirty-nine states. During the 19

century, German nationalists wanted a greater Germany andfor that sought the unification of the German Confederation to create a German Empire. Theysaw the success of the movement of Italian unification and took that as an example.Furthermore, there was an economic need: the united Germany would improve communicationsand commercial cooperation, which would a result in a quicker industrial growth. Lastly apolitician, Otto von Bismarck, agreed to that ideas and accept Prussia’s role as a leader.That drove German Confederation to unite in 1871.However, France and Austria opposed this unification for different reasons. Austria wasthe Prussia’s rival and did not approve anything that would make it more powerful and moreprestigious.As for the France, she was afraid of the power that Germany will get, she thought thatGermany would become too strong and it would upset the balance of power.Bismarck, the prime minister, didn’t be afraid by the war. For him, the Germany had todetermine its strength not by diplomatic means but by the war.In 1864 the Prussia and the Austria decided to attack Denmark together and to share thespoils after the war. The war was very short and Denmark resigned. Bismarck wanted theprovince of Denmark where there was a great German population. Austria kept Holstein andPrussia Schleswig.After a while, Bismarck wanted to attack Austria. Before that he made France promiseshe would remain neutral, but France thought that Austria was more powerful and would easilywin the war. In 1866 Prussia’s army invaded Denmark to took back Holstein from Austriacontrol. As a result, Austria declared war on Prussia. Austria was defeated within seven weeksof war.In 1867, Bismarck wanted to add some states in the Germanic Confederation. Thestates north of the river Main were took under the Prussia’s control. But the states in the southof the river Main became independent and free of Austria influence. Bismarck wanted to unitethem to German confederation, so he needed a good reason for them to want be united. Hethought that a war would persuade them to join his side.That’s why he was looking for a reason to provoke France into war. In 1868 a revolt tookplace in Spain and the queen Isabella was deposed. All the royal family was sent into exile.Bismarck wanted the prince Leopold von Hohenzollern to become the king of Spain, becausehe was a relative of the Prussian royal family and that would be a problem for the France,because it would be surrounded by hostile states and became in danger.He tried even to bribe the Spanish parliament to support Leopold’s claim, but in the endLeopold decided to withdrew his claim. Thus the war between German Empire and Francecould be avoided for at while.The Emperor of the France, Napoleon III, was expected by his wife, French governmentand public opinion to stand up to Bismarck. So he decided, advising by his foreign minister, to