What was the Franco Prussian war about ? Why they fought? how it got started?

Answer 1

All wars are about power.

France was the true aggressive power in the early 19th Century, and the wars with Napoleon ended with a small confederation of German states being freeded of thier Austrian and Spanish monarchs for the first time in history. England assumed the role of policing the globe with its navy, a role that the US assumes today.

However, France decided that they wanted thier empire back, and joined in a number of naval campaigns against the Turks and Russians during the 1800's, as the ally of Great Britian. As they grew in Power again, so thier neighbours - not wanting another Napoleon style invasion - started to prepare to repel them.

France were however keeping an eye on the UK. However when HMS Warrior (first Iron Clad steam warship) was launched in 1860, they decided that they would abandon the route of naval power, and opt for a strong army instead.

The war happened ten years later. (1870 - 71) Frances re-arming had caused a coalition of German states led by Prussia to take similar acton. This colition defeated France, ending French hegemony in continental Europe and creating a unified Germany.

The immediate cause was the candidacy of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen for the Spanish throne, which raised the possibility of a combination of Prussia and Spain against France. Following diplomatic maneuvers to block Leopold's candidacy, the Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck published the Ems Telegram to provoke the French government into declaring war, which it did. By declaring war on Prussia, the seperate German states were combined into a united front.

Thus with the other German states sided with Prussia, and German troops under Gen. Helmuth von Moltke, superior in numbers and organization, scored repeated victories. After Napoleon III surrendered at the Battle of Sedan, French resistance was carried on by a new government, which deposed the emperor and established the Third Republic.

Paris surrendered, but while treaty negotiations were going on, an insurrection by radicals in Paris created a short-lived government, the Paris Commune. After its suppression, a harsh peace treaty was implemented: Germany annexed Alsace and half of Lorraine, and France was occupied until a large indemnity was paid. The German empire was established when William I of Prussia was proclaimed German emperor in 1871. The peace was an unstable one, marked by France's determination to recover Alsace-Lorraine and Germany's mounting imperialism, led by Prussian militarism. Their mutual animosity was a driving force that led to World War I.

Answer 2

attempt focusing on the more suitable photo, that of Europe as an finished. ecu international locations have warred with one yet another for hundreds of years. subsequently, there became truly some undesirable blood between international locations, even contained in the early area of the twentieth century. Many historians record the assassination of Prince Ferdinand by technique of the Black Hand in Serbia because the catalyst for launching Europe into the first global conflict. After the conflict ended with Germany surrendering, huge conflict reparations were positioned upon them, causing the country severe economic issues. those economic issues prepared the floor for the 2d global conflict, even as Adolf Hitler became able to concentration his international locations anger and resentment right into a common reason. the concern could properly be elaborated upon in a some distance more suitable special way, besides the undeniable fact that that is yet a normal rationalization.

Answer 3

When I was ar school I had to read a book - eg http://www.amazon.co.uk/Franco-Prussian-War-German-Conquest-1870-1871/dp/052161743X/ref=sr_1_1/203-0521795-6127137?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1172854088&sr=8-1

Answer 4

Use your brain.