Running head: THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1

The Franco-Prussian War

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THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 2

The Franco-Prussian War also termed as the Franco-German War was a rivalry between

the second Empire of France together with the consecutive third Republic of France and the

North German Confederation State, which was led by the Prussian Kingdom. The war took place

between 1870 and 1871, inspired by the ambitions of the Prussian to shift the balance of Power

as well as the extension of German unification. The Franco-Prussian War reminds everyone how

European nations became superpower as a result of the victory by Germans against the France.

The defeat of 1870 definitively precluded superpower status for France and consigned Napoleon

III to the dustbin of history. Bismarck maneuvered France into a position where Napoleon III felt

compelled to declare war through the “Ems Telegram.” Prussian Breech Loading Artillery was

far superior to the French Muzzle loaders, both had excellent rifles, but the rapidity of the

Prussian artillery almost always gave the Prussians the advantage.

Adams, W. H. D. (1872). The Franco-Prussian War: its causes, incidents and consequences:

with the topography and history of the Rhine Valley by WH Davenport Adams (Vol. 2).

Mackenzie.

In this article, the author Adams explores the causes, events, incidences, and the results of

the Franco-Prussian War. According to the author, Bismarck wanted to complete the process of

German unification by absorbing the 4 nominally independent south German states-Bavaria,

Baden, Wirttemberg,and Hesse-Darmstadt- in his Prussian dominated North German

Confederation. The Rhine province proved to be valuable in resources for industrialization and

population increased within Prussia. During the revolutions of 1848, Prussia turned down the

offer of a constitutional German crown based in Frankfurt as the Prussian king had full authority.

Prussia fought wars on Denmark and Austria to annex more territories under Prussia. Otto von

Bismarck knew that war with France will be inevitable as France constantly demanded a
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 3

compromise territory around the Rhine to be given to France for securing their neutrality during

the Austro-Prussian war. The article is relevant to the topic since it focuses on the causes,

incidences, and the outcomes of the War.

Foley, Robert T. (2007). German strategy and the path to Verdun: Erich von Falkenhayn and

the development of attrition, 1870-1916. Cambridge University Press.

In this book, the author explores the strategy employed by Germany during the Franco-

Prussian war to get a victory against France. According to the author, Napoléon III was too

confident to believe on French victory because the French Army those days was one of the

world’s most professional armies. The French did not know the Prussians had been an ongoing

reforms which made them seriously successful. France’s decision not to intervene into the war

between Austria and Prussia over German domination, was seen as a diplomatic failure. They

were under-prepared. France lost. The Empire collapsed. The later Republic did not do better. In

Versailles, von Bismarck proudly presented the birth of Imperial Germany - which would change

entire of Europe in the future

What did Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian War mean for Europe? - DailyHistory.org.

Dailyhistory.org. (2021). Retrieved 28 April 2021, from

https://www.dailyhistory.org/What_did_Prussia

%E2%80%99s_victory_in_the_Franco-Prussian_War_mean_for_Europe%3F.

This article examines the significant and importance of a victory in the Franco-Prussian

War to Europe. The article explores the origin of the war, a background portraying the causes

and events that led to the War as well as the aftermath and consequences of the war, which was a

victory for Germany and the entire Europe. In the article, an emphasis on how the entire Europe

benefited from the victory of German in Franco-Prussian War. The powers that be in Europe
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 4

witnessed the shocking and unpredictable rise of a unified German state smack-dab in the heart

of the continent and all had an opinion on the war and just what it meant for themselves in the

greater scheme of things. The rise of a unified and dominating state in Germany right between

France and Russia and the shocking speed with which they won the Franco-Prussian War sent

shockwaves throughout Europe. The article is relevant source for the topic since it considers the

benefits and aftermath of the War for the European nations.

Franco-Prussian War Facts, Worksheets, Causes, Effects & Key Events. School History.

(2021). Retrieved 28 April 2021, from https://schoolhistory.co.uk/notes/franco-

prussian-war/.

The source is a website that involves activities for 11-16 years old as a home study. The

fact file and worksheet provided for the learners involves the Franco-Prussian historical context,

facts of the War, which involves two armies. The Franco-Prussian War was a momentous part of

European history that overturned many of the traditional power structures that had dominated

Europe up to that point. The fact worksheet also explores the causes and effects of the War.

Lastly, the fact file has relevant information regarding the crucial events and incidences of the

War. In France, this was considered as a disgraceful war, because the French were defeated by

the Prussians, who later would establish the German Empire, and ancestors of modern-day

Germans.

T-frank. (2020). Bismarckian diplomacy. Cameroongcerevision.com. Retrieved 28 April

2021, from https://cameroongcerevision.com/bismarckian-diplomacy/.

This article explores the Bismarckian Diplomacy, which was inspired as the aftermath of

the Franco-Prussian victory. According to the article, Bismarck was not only a great statesman,

he was also a great diplomat. By using his diplomatic skills, Bismarck maintained German
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 5

dominance in Europe till the time he remained German chancellor. Bismarck’s foreign policy

had left a lasting influence on European history. Bismarck knew what he was trying to achieve

through his foreign policy and because of this, he could implement his design effectively.

Through his foreign policy, he maintained German dominance in Europe for more than two

decades. No power could challenge German prestige till the time Bismarck was in the office of

German chancellor. The relevance of this source to the research topic is the fact that the author

explores the aftermath and consequences of the War.

References

Adams, W. H. D. (1872). The Franco-Prussian War: its causes, incidents and consequences:

with the topography and history of the Rhine Valley by WH Davenport Adams (Vol. 2).

Mackenzie.

Foley, Robert T. (2007). German strategy and the path to Verdun: Erich von Falkenhayn and

the development of attrition, 1870-1916. Cambridge University Press.

Franco-Prussian War Facts, Worksheets, Causes, Effects & Key Events. School History. (2021).

Retrieved 28 April 2021, from https://schoolhistory.co.uk/notes/franco-prussian-war/.

T-frank. (2020). Bismarckian diplomacy. Cameroongcerevision.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021,

from https://cameroongcerevision.com/bismarckian-diplomacy/.
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 6

What did Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian War mean for Europe? - DailyHistory.org.

Dailyhistory.org. (2021). Retrieved 28 April 2021, from

https://www.dailyhistory.org/What_did_Prussia%E2%80%99s_victory_in_the_Franco-

Prussian_War_mean_for_Europe%3F.