THE Franco-Prussian War opposed the two main economic and military powers of continental Europe between the years 1870 and 1871, representing the downfall of the Empire of Napoleon III and the rise of the German Empire of William I, designed by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
The conflict arose as a result of a maneuver by Bismarck to make the French stand against the economic and military strengthening of the Kingdom of Prussia, which had been going on since the 1850s and with wars carried out mainly against Denmark and the Austria. In these conflicts, Prussia gained preponderance on the European scene, allowing the realization of of Bismarck's and William I's plans to unify the various Germanic kingdoms that were fragmented.
The reason used for the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War was the dispute for the succession to the Spanish throne, which took place after the Spanish Revolution of 1868. There was the interest of Leopoldo Hohenzollern, cousin of William I, in applying for the position of Spanish sovereign, with the support of Bismarck. Concerned about the Prussian advance into Spanish territory, Napoleon III opposed Leopold's occupation of the throne, threatening war if that happened.
France managed to withdraw Leopold's candidacy, but Bismarck acted deftly to get Napoleon III to declare war on Prussia. In the episode of the "Order of Ems", Bismarck tampered with a letter from William I, which was published in the press, in which the Prussian king presented himself offending a French ambassador. It was Napoleon III's cue to declare war on Prussia. With the French attack, the Prussians were able to convince the other German states to make a military alliance against the French, under the command of Prussia.
With the conflict open, Prussia was able to put its entire military machine into action. The strong industrial development and the mandatory military service in this Germanic kingdom created the conditions for superiority over the French. The armaments and tactics used, as well as the stimulus to the German nationalist feeling, were the characteristics that have led countless historians to claim that the Franco-Prussian War was the first Modern war. Under the command of General Helmuth von Moltke, the Prussians inflicted serious defeats on the French, the most notorious being the battles of Gravelotte and Sedan. In the latter, in September 1870, Napoleon III surrendered and was captured by the Prussians.
From then onwards, the victory of William I's troops over France was a matter of time, despite the guerrilla resistance on the part of the franc tireurs. With the fall of Napoleon III, a Government of National Defense was formed, but it was dominated after the arrival of the Prussians in Paris in January 1871. In March of the same year, the Treaty of Frankfurt was signed and the Third French Republic formed, under the command of Adolphe Thiers. In the peace negotiations, France suffered heavy impositions, such as the loss of Alsace and Lorraine, in addition to the payment of a high monetary indemnity. This defeat inflamed French nationalist sentiment against the Germans, constituting one of the reasons that would result in the outbreak of World War I.
On the other hand, Thiers' capitulation to German impositions caused the population of Paris to revolt against the new government and form the Paris Commune.
With the victory, William I and Bismarck were able to convince the other German states to unite under the command of Prussia, forming the German Empire, also known as the Second Reich.
By Tales Pinto
Graduated in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiag/guerra-franco-prussiana-os-nacionalismos.htm