1. The War with France and the Unification of Germany

3. Luxembourg Crisis
France lost heavily from prestige, military (supposed) supremacy and there developed an increased anti-Prussian opinion and had lost all potential allies
Luxembourg Crisis Napoleon wished to annex the duchy in return for its neutrality in Bismarck even stated “there would be no obstacles in the way of French expansion on the basis of French nationalism”
Lux. was not even in the N. G. Confed.

4. Luxembourg Crisis
Bismarck allowed the news of Napoleon’s “scheming” to be published- public outrage- Bismarck switches course
Bismarck releases a secret military agreement with the South German states- Prussia would oppose the French acquisition of Lux. and provide military support to Lux.
Threat of war against Napoleon III- meeting held in London- France backs down- Luxembourg becomes independent
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5. The Hohenzollern Candidate
1868 Queen Isabella II overthrown in Madrid (liberal- constitution)
The liberals looked to possibly remove her and asked for possible foreign candidates-
Prince Leopold von Hohenzollern-Simaringen- nephew to the King of Prussia (married a Portuguese Princess)
Prussia (Bismarck) offered- Uproar in France (why?)

6. The Hohenzollern Candidate
French ambassador, Benedetti visited King Wilhelm I at Ems (resort town in Prussia) to present the French perspective- agreed to withdraw without any ill will
Napoleon sends Benedetti back to seek assurances that it wouldn’t happen again- Wilhelm refuses but both part happy and confident
Wilhelm dictates a telegram to Bismarck

7. Ems Dispatch
Bismarck edits the telegram- makes it public in France and the German states
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8. Did Bismarck plan a war with France?
Unification of Germany

9. Historical Debate Pages 156- 157- 3 options, well more like 2
Did Bismarck intend to go to war with France?
*keep close attention to the issue of the Southern German states
What do you think?

10. War with France
300,000 Prussian troops at the border within days (railways and already mobilized??)
Prussia suffered heavy losses, more than the French, but the French withdrew (probably due to the Prussian artillery)
Fortress of Sedan- 150,000 Prussian troops vs a small relief force- Wilhelm, Bismarck and Napoleon III watched the assault
France- 17,000 losses- Prussia losses- Napoleon III taken prisoner

12. War with France
War continues- September Paris is surrounded by Prussian forces
Slow peace process- allowed French guerrilla resistance fighters- Prussian response is brutal
War erupted again in Jan until a Adolphe Thiers is elected to the French provisional government- negotiates with Bismarck

13. Bismarck and Thiers
Bismarck acquires Alsace and Lorraine, and France is required to pay 5 billion francs- Treaty of Frankfurt
Revolution in Paris due to the war and the treaty- the Paris Commune- opposed the new Republic
France attacks its own people as Prussian troops watch

15. Results of the War
German leadership- poor- Bismarck looses his grip on the army
Peace is very hard to be negotiated- Austrian Treaty was easy and kept both nations friendly
Taking Alsace and Lorraine made friendly relations impossible- hello World War 1
Regardless- January 1871 Germany is proclaimed as an Empire by the German princes at a ceremony at VERSAILLES!
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19. The German Empire
Federal constitution- with Emperor Wilhelm I as hereditary King
Bismarck- Imperial Chancellor until appointed all ministers
Reichstag- elected by universal manhood suffrage (over 25)
Individual states had their own assemblies and dealt with their own internal concerns
Bundesrat- assembly of rep. of all the states (Prussia was the biggest and most dominant)
Budget was voted on for 7 years- Foreign affairs were the direct responsibility of the Chancellor

20. How did he do it?